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bellarkeselection · 4 months

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It’s About Time

Request from Wattpad mackleann Kayce or Lee ( you pick ) where the reader is a family friend who comes to help with the cattle branding. The pair confese their feelings and get teased by the bunkhouse gang

Driving my truck underneath the Yellowstone Dutton ranch sign I pulled the vehicle to a stop just beside the main house porch. I opened the door seeing that the area of the ranch was already set up for the branding the next morning. Getting out of the truck I shut the door seeing somebody riding up in the distance. “Well I didn’t expect to see you here this weekend.”

Whipping my head around a huge grin masked my face seeing Kayce coming up to me on his horse. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised.”

“Maybe because I thought you’d be busy. But I am awfully excited to see you.” He began dismounting his black horse comic over to me with wide open arms.

Rushing towards him I laughed, throwing my arms and legs around his waist. “You better be excited to see me, Dutton.”

“Hey I said that I was you crazy rascal.” He chuckled at me while I was hanging off his arms. Kayce was struggling to keep me from falling on the ground.

I had been a close friend of the family for years. I had been there for the family when Evelyn died and when Kayce had gone off to serve the Navy. I had somewhat of a relationship with each of the Dutton members, but Kayce and I were closer. He finally sits me down on my feet getting my boots dirty. “You better be nice to me. You know I can kick your ass.”

“Oh yeah. Which one of us has training?” He teased me, tipping his hat slightly to me.

Putting my hands on my hips. “It doesn't matter. I know how to throw a punch pretty good.”

Kayce stared down at me since he was slightly taller than me. Honestly most people would say we were always attached to the other hip. And it wasn’t a lie. I’d basically lived my entire life on this ranch.

Kayce went over to his horse leading him to the barn by the reins. “Does my dad know you’re coming here this weekend to help with the branding?”

“I’d expect so. Why did you have plans to skip?” I asked him to follow him to the barn.

He shook his head. “Nah. But your company will sure make it better.”

Together we left the barn and went straight for the main house. He held open the door for me, hanging his black hat on the wall while doing so. Walking through the living room there was a fire going and I could see someone sitting on the couch. “What made you stay out late? Daddy told Gater to wait.”

“Well it wasn’t because he wasn’t hungry. He just had someone keeping him occupied.” Leaning over the back of the couch hair in my face I whispered in his sister’s ear.

She sat her glass down, turning around to me. “Did you finally take her out there in the barn?”

“Beth!” I scolded her, feeling my face beginning to turn red.

Her younger brother cleared his throat. “We aren’t dating and you know that.”

“Rip and I may have beat around the bush when we were kids. But he knows he’s mine. Everybody on this ranch knows who is with who. You two ain’t any different.” She crossed her arms on the back of the couch.

Tapping my foot on the wooden floor I tried to remain calm about this. I didn’t need it to be painfully obvious that I had feelings for him. I didn’t want to ruin the relationship we have if he doesn’t feel the same way. But Beth had a different mind than everyone else. She knew what words could sink someone into the ground. “I’ll think you’re wrong. Now did you say Gator had dinner?”

“Walking away just means we will have this conversation later, Y/n.” She called as I walked into the dining room.

Pausing in my tracks I holler back to her. “No it doesn’t, Bethany!”

Kayce eyed his sister but had nothing to say to her. He dropped his hands down at his sides. The young Dutton knew he felt something for the girl who walked around his family home like she was always meant to be there. Maybe because he’d seen her around his whole life. She had always been a Dutton in his eyes.

“Kayce, I’m going to have dinner in the bunkhouse. See if I can beat those boys at poker if you want to come with me.” I called from the kitchen, grabbing my jacket and a to-go bag of food that Gator made for me.

He turned his head in my direction. “Yeah sure I’ll come.”

“Don’t have too much fun you two.” Beth chuckled at the two of us watching us leave going to the bunkhouse.

By the time we had got to the bunkhouse we could hear them yelling and half the alcohol was almost gone from the fridge. Sliding in on the empty seat next to Ryan he smiled in my direction throwing his desk of card’s down. “Look who decided to join the party. The future mr and Mrs. Kayce Dutton.”

“Oh not you guys too.” I rolled my eyes not expecting them to be on it with Beth.

Colby fixes the deck, dealing me and Kayce each a hand to play in their new game. “We can’t help it if you make it so obvious.”

“What’s obvious?” Jimmy asked from his bunk.

Teeter, who was fixing herself some dinner from Gator spoke up, removing the spoon from inside her mouth. “They clearly want each other just like I know my baby wants me.”

“I am not your baby.” Colby replied to her.

She smiled, turning back to her food. “Stop lying to yourself baby.”

“I didn’t think you had a thing for her, Kayce. I just thought you two were really close friends.” Jimmy entered the conversation.

I moved my gaze to the center of the wooden table not saying a word. Shifting the deck of cards in my hands I really wanted them to stop with the teasing. But Jimmy clearly couldn’t read the room correctly, bless his heart. “We are really close and that’s all.”

“But they are burning to be more.” Ryan made a kissing sound into my ear.

Kayce hit his fist on the table. “Will you stop talking about that!”

“Ohh he’s getting all embarrassed.” Jake, another ranch hand, joined in pointing his index finger at him.

Kayce hit the table again. “I swear the next person who teases us will see me fly over this table.”

Jake, Colby and Ryan about lost their shit at that statement all cheering like he had just admitted he had feelings for me when he really hadn’t. Raising my hands up I sighed finally saying something. “Can we just get back to the game?”

“She’s still avoiding the moment.” Jimmy spoke up.

Kayce raised himself up to his feet stomping over to Jimmy. He grabs him by his shirt getting in his face angrily. “That does it! What did I say a few seconds ago, Jimmy.”

“Woah, when did poker become violent?” Lloyd came out of the bathroom shortly after Walker did. Both confused at what was going on here.

Forcing myself up from my chair I stomped over to the fridge throwing it open. “Cause I apparently can’t get a beer around here with all these gossiping girls dressed as cowboys.” I mocked them for drinking almost half the bottle of beer I had taken from their stash.

“Well then let’s start this card game.” Walker sat down in my chair and thankfully there was no more conversation like that when Kayce let go of Jimmy. He left the bunkhouse leaving me with the boys and Teeter for the rest of the night which made me think maybe they had gotten underneath his skin over something.

The next morning was crazy for everyone even though we had everything set up. Coming out of one of the tents we had set up I halted in my tracks seeing the blonde that had hit a rock after an animal protest talking with him. Summer I remember her name to be. “I don’t think this place is right for you.”

“Oh don’t worry. Once I get out of here I will leave. Besides I can sense somebody doesn’t care much for me being in your company.” She turned her head slightly seeing that I was glaring at the pair.

Kayce turned his attention to her, quickly walking away from her side. “See you around, Summer…what’s got you so angry?”

“I’m not angry over anything.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

He tilted his head. “Really cause you won’t make eye contact when you’re angry. You also hug your arms to your chest when you’re angry. So what made you upset?”

“I think I should be asking you that more than you asking me after what happened last night. You bailed on me Kayce, why?” I questioned the young rancher trying to figure out why all day but nothing came to mind.

He blinked a few times with silent passing between us. “I didn’t like what they were saying about us.”

“It was just teasing right or do you have feelings for me?” I blurted it out letting my curiosity get the better of me when it came to what he thought.

Kayce stepped closer to me reaching up with his hands to cradle my face. “I didn’t like the teasing because I wanted to be the one to tell you myself. But now I say fuck it.”

“Kayce-“ He cut me off short, pressing his lips down onto mine and after that point everything suddenly stopped. Throwing my arms around his neck I brought him closer, deepening the kiss.

He moved one hand into my hair tugging on it a few times. I moaned into the kiss, finding this is better than I could have imagined. Like we were always supposed to be like this together. “I told you, boys.”

“Wait a second.” I broke the kiss recognizing Beth’s voice.

Kayce kept one hand on my wrist when I remained close to his chest seeing that Ryan and Colby were standing off to the side with her. “What the hell did you have them do?”

“We bet her ten bucks that the teasing last night wouldn’t work.” Ryan reached inside his jacket handing her some money.

She took it from his hand proudly walking past us to go find Rip. “They lost obviously. It’s about time you two finally saddled your horses together.” Kayce and I shared the same shocked look but shortly laughed with huge smiles on our faces at the well thought out plan she had achieved.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

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c0wgurlz · 6 months

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Trouble On My Left, Trouble On My Right

Chapter 2: Operation, Find Caroline a Cowboy

gif by @bodybebangin

Kayce Dutton x Reader/OC - Friends to Lovers

He doesn't even have to take half a step to catch back up with me. “Come on Caroline, you know I’m just teasing you.” He pats my back as a peace offering. “Although,” Okay, maybe not. “I have it on good authority that I can please the ladies, so save a horse and all that.” Winking flirtatiously, he belts out a laugh, finally removing his hand from my bare back. And what a blessing that is, because if he had kept touching me while talking about… that, I’d be liable to combust.

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Chapter 1

Sorry it took me so long to update! I'm a teacher and my free time is fairly limited. We're at a point in the school year now though that is much less stressful, so expect fairly regular updates, at least for the next few chapters.

Comments are so appreciated! I'd love to know what ya'll like and what ya'll think I could improve upon.

As always: I do not own Yellowstone (2018) or any of its characters. This work is not monetized.

THIS FIC IS CROSSPOSTED TO AO3. It is not posted to any other site. I am lookingcold on AO3 and that is all. I do not give permission for my work to be posted by others to any other platform.

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We don’t talk for the rest of the walk, but the silence is comfortable, like it always is between us. Kayce and I have never asked too much of each other, have always read each others’ moods as if they were our own, and that apparently hasn’t changed from the five years we’ve spent apart. It’s glaringly obvious to us both that neither is up for idle chit chat.

And while I’m really not up for small talk, the silence does, unfortunately, give me entirely too much time to overthink. What felt like such a natural decision, what felt like fulfilling my duty this morning, now feels foolhardy, and quite possibly too risky. Now this isn’t to say that I’m doubting my choice. Helping Mr. John, helping Kayce, helping the family and ranch that raised me, that picked up my pieces and glued me back together over and over, is a no brainer. Helping the people and the place I love most in the world feels as natural as breathing. But smoothing over a murder? That’s- No, I’m not doubting my choice, but I’m sure as hell doubting my sanity. When I said the Duttons needed a criminal defense lawyer, not a PR specialist, I wasn’t exaggerating. And if I’m being honest, this job feels more like that of an accessory than a public relations consult.

The front porch of the big house comes into view well before I’m ready. This dinner may be a reunion of sorts, but it’ll undoubtedly be a business meeting as well. Steeling my nerves for such talks doesn’t come quite as naturally to me as it once did. I feel like a knight with rusty armor. Weak at critical points, weak where it matters. More aptly, I feel like a little girl again, staring into the headlights of a train with no way to move and no way to stop it. I’m no coward, please don’t think that of me, but you know that feeling of impending doom? The one that makes your spine tingle and your stomach drop to your knees? Dread is probably the best word. That’s all I can feel as I stand at the bottom step of the Dutton’s porch.

I must hesitate for too long, or stare off into space, or look absolutely fucking terrified, because in a flash Kayce is back down the two steps he’d already taken and by my side. He doesn’t say anything, you’d think we’d taken a vow of silence, but just looks at me imploringly, resembling a curious puppy so much I almost crack a smile. And then Kacye, sweet Kayce, wraps his calloused hand around mine and tucks it against his chest, over his heart, before tipping his head, ushering me up the stairs. Once I’m half way up I get a fond, “Atta girl,” and what woman doesn’t love being praised like an obedient mare. I snort in response and kick out my foot to trip him, but only a little bit, on the last stair. Can’t have hime getting too full of himself.

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Dinner is nice, but rather awkward if I’m totally honest, mainly due to the fact that Beth and Jamie are in attendance. Let’s just say Gator clears the table well before dinner should truly be over. To my surprise, we don’t talk business, but rather I’m questioned, interrogated really, over what I’ve been up to the past five years and why haven’t I called and would it really kill me to send a text every few months. Beth is the one who leads this inquiry. Jamie and I were never particularly close, so he remains silent for the most part, and he leaves in a huff shortly after Beth throws a fork like it’s a trident directly at his forehead. Can’t say I blame him, even I can only handle so much of Beth when she’s at her worst.

My interrogation is blissfully, or so I thought, cut short by Mr. John when he asks, “So, ya’ll have any plans tonight?” He folds his napkin meticulously, trying to look nonchalant but missing the mark by a shameful amount. If I thought that feeling of dread had left me, I was wrong.

I narrow my eyes and prepare to defend myself against an interrogation of a different kind. Before I can grit out a suspicious, “No, why,” however, Beth pipes up. “Actually Daddy, since you asked,” at this she turns to me, “Caroline, how do you feel about heading into town and getting gloriously drunk and then gloriously fucked? You’ve been gone far too long, so you’ve got to be re-initiated, re-tainted if you will.” She looks me up and down, assessing. “You’re far too shiny, like a little cherub.”

Jesus Christ, I think she’s suggesting I fuck a townie. And Mary and Joseph I haven’t even so much as kissed someone since my divorce - ok, well maybe a peck or two here or there, but that’s besides the point. Here I was, so worried about talking business, about skirting around the subject of murder, only to be blindsided by an age old Dutton scheme. Operation: Find Caroline a Cowboy. Well if Beth thinks I’m about to get biblical with some rando she is absolutely, positively looney tunes. Now, how to communicate all of that in a tactful way? Taking a shallow breath, I part my lips and prepare to spout some placating, buzzword bullshit. Something along the lines of, “Well, as fun as that sounds, I’m actually really tired. Maybe later this weekend?” or “How about we just kick back in the bunkhouse tonight, save the salaciousess for this Saturday?” Before I can even utter a word though, Kayce butts in on my behalf.

“Do you maybe think you could save the corruption for later, Beth? I’ve already promised the boys that I’ll bring Caroline around for cards tonight.” While his voice is calm, casual even, Kayce gives himself away the moment he begins to bounce his leg, the tap tap tap of the heel of his boot loud in the otherwise quiet room. He’s uncomfortable, maybe even irritated, which aren’t we all at least a little bit when speaking to Beth, but there’s something else. A boyishness to his demeanor that I haven’t seen since high school. There’s also the fact that we had decidedly made zero plans to visit the bunkhouse tonight. So. Interesting.

I’m certainly not the only one to notice his odd shift in behavior, as Mr. John’s lips curl into a smirk and Beth’s face arranges inself into a pleased, self-satisfied expression. She frequently wears the look of someone who knows enough to destroy literally any given person’s life, but this look is more playful, one of a cat that’s pinned a mouse by its tail. Ignoring Kayce, she turns her attention back to me. “Caroline, sweetheart, don’t even think about screwing any of those cowboys. I know old habits die hard, but trust me when I say not a single one of them is worth a ride.” Now, to be clear, Beth knows, I know, Mr. John knows, and even Kayce knows that Beth has only ever screwed one of said cowboys out in that bunkhouse, still, her dig elicits the desired reaction from Kayce. And furthermore, she makes it clear that she’s not just trying to set me up with any old cowboy. I’m on to her. Operation: Find Caroline a Kayce.

With a cringe of disgust and a flushed face, he exclaims, “Fuck’s sake Beth, I’m not taking her out there to pimp her out.” He’s stopped smoothing the tablecloth, but now he’s exasperatedly running his hand through his still damp hair. Shit, Kayce. You think he’d have learned by now how to not play into Beth’s hand. Some people just have to learn the hard way I suppose.

Beth’s eyebrows lift and the corner of her mouth quirks. “Well you’re not a very good bestfriend then, are you?”

“Fuck you.” Kayce mutters, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms petulantlly.

“Maybe you should be saying that to her.” Beth points at me with her napkin, dropping it onto her plate as she rises from the table. “This has been fun. Possibly the best family dinner we’ve had all year.” Planting a kiss on Mr. John’s cheek she says, “Love you Daddy, have a drink with me later, will you? I think we should talk.” Then, rounding the table to me, she strokes my hair, almost motherly, “Caroline, sweetheart, clear your schedule Saturday. Me and you are going to paint the town red.” Finally, reaching Kayce, she sighs, “Goodnight, dummy. Let me know if you’d like help finding your balls.” And just like a tornado, she’s there wreaking havoc one moment, and gone the next.

The dining room is uncomfortably silent for a beat after she exits, until Mr. John blessedly breaks the awkwardness yet again. “Beth’s antics aside, I don’t think ya’ll should be going out anywhere tonight. We’ve got several important meetings lined up tomorrow morning and I need both of you sharp. Especially you Kayce, tomorrow will require you to tell a very particular version of events and I can’t risk you fucking that up. Alright, Son?”

Looking slightly cowed, Kayce nods his head in agreement. “Alright.”

Having determined this hell of a dinner has gone on long enough, I begin to make moves to excuse Kayce and myself. “Dinner was delicious Mr. John, thank you for having me. And thank you for such fine company.” I may be lying out of my ass, but my momma didn’t raise me to be rude.

Mr. John exhales a dry laugh and rises from the table. It’s moments like this where his and Beth’s resemblance is striking. “No need to thank me, honey. You’re family, you’re welcome at my table anytime.” Pushing in his chair he surveys Kayce and I with calculating eyes. “Why don’t you two head on home, you both look like you’ve been put through the wringer.”

Gee Mr. John, I wonder the hell why?

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Our walk back isn’t nearly as silent as our walk to the house. To say Kayce is pissed would be putting it lightly. “What in the actual fuck was all that? I mean, Beth was no surprise, but what shit is Dad trying to pull?”

“Kayce, your daddy barely said a word.” I’m more focused on the words left unsaid.

“He didn’t have to say anything Carrie, he sat there like a smug bastard and let Beth say it all for him.” Kayce may as well be pitching a fit the way he kicks at the ground, arms hugged tight to his chest like a wronged toddler. Honestly, the image is kind of amusing, so much so that I have to stifle a laugh. I must not do a good enough job, because I can feel the glare that Kayce shoots through the side of my head. “What?”

Not wanting to add fuel to the fire, I’m quick to hide my growing grin. “Well first off, I’m gonna overlook the fact you pulled out my forbidden nickname. But second, do you remember that Christmas when we were thirteen? How Beth hung mistletoe from literally every single doorway, and how your daddy actually enforced the kissing rule?” I raise my eyebrows high, daring him to conveniently “forget” an awkward moment from our childhood as he often pretends to do.

The tips of his ears turn pink, but he sighs his agreement. “Yeah I remember, we must’ve kissed two dozen times. At the time I thought dying would’ve been a kinder fate.”

Asshole. I punch him in the arm, hard. “Wow. Thanks a lot. The sentiment is shared.” Rolling my eyes and checking for invisible dirt beneath my nails, I continue. “Anyways, what they’re doing now, Beth and your daddy, is just an enormous escalation of what they did then. I don’t think Mr. John will rest in his grave until I give him a grandbaby - with you.” I look at Kayce pointedly. It’s no secret that Mr. John, and Beth by extension, have been holding out hope that me and Kayce would fall madly in love and have lots of babies. When Kayce married Monica the teasing and hinting stopped, after all Mr. John would never disrespect their marriage in such a way, and when I married Judd it was almost like a fence went up between us, between myself and the Duttons that is, but now that both of our spouses are out of the picture? I’m certainly not surprised the trouble has started back up.

I expect Kayce to splutter and turn a darker shade of red. Despite his gruff exterior he’s always been reserved and easy to embarrass. He surprises me though when he mutters, “Maybe we should just give him what he wants then. Get him and Beth off our backs.”

I shock myself with the cackle that bursts its way out of my body. It bubbles out partly because of the utter glee I get from Kayce having a sense of humor for once and partly from the insanity of such a suggestion. “So you’re telling me, that your solution to getting your daddy and Beth to leave us alone, is to have a baby together? Yeah, because they definitely would have no interest in our love lives after a stunt like that.” I bump his hip with mine. “I can just hear Beth now, ‘I’m thinking a Fall wedding, you look horrible in bright colors and nobody wants to wear a suit in eighty-eight degree weather.’ We’d never hear the end of it.”

Kayce shrugs, shooting me a wry grin. “Hey, if we marry each other at least we’ll know what we’re getting into. No surprises.”

“Yeah, and no sex,” slips past my lips before I can swallow it down. What a stupid fucking thing to say. Good job Caroline, talk about fucking, or not fucking, your best friend some more why don’t you. Now I’m the one who’s blushing. Pink from the roots of my hair to my chest. And what a fatal mistake I’ve made by opening my fat mouth. My whole life I’ve had to be one step ahead of Kayce, embarrassing him before he can embarrass me worse, yet here I am giving him a golden opportunity.

His grin only widens. “I hate to break it to you Carrie, but to make a baby people have to have sex.” He slings an arm around my shoulders, adding insult to injury. “You know when a man loves a woman…”

I elbow him in the ribs before he can continue. He laughs at my embarrassment just as much as he groans from the pain. “Oh shut up.” Now I cross my arms, increasing my stride so that his arm falls from my shoulders.

He doesn’t even have to take half a step to catch back up with me. “Come on Caroline, you know I’m just teasing you.” He pats my back as a peace offering. “Although,” Okay, maybe not. “I have it on good authority that I can please the ladies, so save a horse and all that.” Winking flirtatiously, he belts out a laugh, finally removing his hand from my bare back. And what a blessing that is, because if he had kept touching me while talking about… that, I’d be liable to combust. If Kayce had always been shy and reserved in his day to day life, where I had been bright and obnoxious in mine, the topic of sex is where we switched places. I think calling myself a prude may be a tad harsh, but I certainly have never been one to broadcast my sexual business. Kayce on the other hand has never shied away from flirting, or kissing, or having sex in nearly every one of Mr. John’s pastures - you don’t get someone pregnant at nineteen by keeping it in your pants after all.

Playing the game I had with Kayce in the bathroom earlier today had felt safe, probably because I was the one in control, but this battle of wills feels altogether different, like someone is poking at an insecurity, at a bruise I didn’t even know I had. It’s confusing at best and humiliating at worst. Throwing his words back at him, I huff, “Now Kayce Dutton, you know this conversation is entirely improper, so I suggest you drop it. And also,” I whirl around on the step I’ve just taken. Thank God we’ve reached the foreman’s house because I don’t know how much longer I can participate in this back and forth before I’m forced to will myself out of existence. “Who says I’d even want to have a baby with you? Good authority or not. I know ya’ll’ve gotten new ranch hands since I’ve last been here, all of whom I haven’t gotten to size up yet. You never know, maybe one of them is babydaddy material.” I poke him firmly in the chest. “Don’t assume I haven’t got options.” Before Kayce can respond I storm up the remaining steps and into the house, kicking my boots off perhaps a bit too aggressively before striding into the kitchen. What I plan to do in the kitchen, I don’t know, but I still don’t know which room I’m staying in and the living room feels too cozy to stew in, so the kitchen it is.

Kayce saddles in much more calmly, but his fierce expression gives his true feelings away. “Are you serious?” He grunts, and if I wasn’t so embarrassed, mad, confused, hurt - for some reason that alludes me, I might have found the rocky timbre of his voice sexy.

“Serious about what?” I avoid his gaze petulantly, pouring myself a glass of water for a lack of anything better to do.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” He groans, tipping his head back and rubbing at his eyes. “Are you really picking a fight over whether or not we should get imaginary married, have imaginary sex, and have an imaginary baby? You do hear how crazy that sounds?”

“So now I’m crazy?” My voice is cool, and serious, even though at this point I realize I’ve lost the argument. Even though I’ve realized there never should’ve been an argument in the first place.

Any fight Kayce had left in him drains away. I see the moment that it leaves his body, his eyes softening and his shoulders relaxing. “Caroline, honey, what’d I do?”

Almost as if there’s an invisible string connecting us, my body relaxes too. I blow out a breath, dump my water down the drain, and come to stand in front of him. No island between us. “You didn’t really do anything, just poked at a sore spot, that’s all.”

Sensing that this may be a conversation best saved for later, Kayce graciously changes the subject. Scratching at the back of his neck with one hand and gesturing towards the bathroom with the other he murmurs, “Well uh, if you still wanna have that spa night we should probably get going, we’ve got a early morning tomorrow and if I’m gonna let you take my spa virginity we’ve gotta do this thing right.” That earns him a hard exhale, the ghost of what could’ve been a laugh. But he must know not to expect much else, that I’m still nursing my bruised ego, because he carries on. “So why don’t I go get that bubble bath started and you can sort through your uh lotions and potions, decide on how best to pretty me up. And then maybe we could talk, about anything you want.” He begins to walk backwards, making his way towards the bathroom. It’s odd to hear the soft pad of his socked feet on the hardwood and not the click of his boots, but also kind of nice, endearing.

“Okay,” I breath, “Yeah, that’d be - that’d be nice.” I move to walk past him, into the hall where I’d left my bags. “I think you’ve got a bit of a sunburn so I’ll see if I’ve got an aloe mask for you. If you plan on putting yourself back on the market you’d better start taking care of your looks.”

I’m very purposefully facing away from him, so I don’t see the melancholy on his face so much as I hear it in his voice. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s likely to happen. My days of chasing tail are definitely over.” I don’t reply, not too keen on opening that can of worms further, and so an uncomfortable silence settles over us. It’s only broken when Kayce sighs, “Well, I’ll uh, I’ll be in the bathroom whenever you’re ready.”

Still looking down, I pause the mindless shuffling I’d been doing through my bags, “Alright, just give me a few minutes.” Having found the masks I was looking for well before now, I finally rise from out of my crouch, left knee popping in protest. “Like you said, you deserve a proper first spa night,” I turn my body to reveal my profile, pretending to check the label of the plastic tub in my hands, “I’ve gotta make sure I pull out all the stops. You know I don’t half ass anything.” Feeling generous, I finally offer him a small smile, turning to fully face him.

The relief in his eyes catches me off guard. “Don’t I know it.”

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I don’t know what I expected when Kayce said he’d go run a bubble bath. Too absorbed in my own thoughts, I didn’t consider that such an activity is typically done alone, certainly not with a friend, and even more certainly not with a totally platonic, albeit sexy, boy bestfriend. When I finally make my way into the bathroom however, I’m greeted by the sight of Kayce settled into the comically large clawfoot tub, chin tucked to his chest so that bubbles cling to his beard, eyes unfocused and contemplative. “Didn’t realize I invited Santa Claus.” I joke, at a loss for anything else to say. Too scared to say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question.

At the sound of my voice his head jerks up, the sudden movement sloshing water just shy of the lip of the tub. “Santa Claus?” He furrows his eyebrows. He really does look like a puppy.

“You’ve got bubbles,” I gesture to my chin, miming a full beard.

He chuckles, “Oh, yeah, I guess I just got bored and,” he shrugs, “I’ve gotten used to playing with Tate in the bath. You’re lucky I didn’t break out the bubble mohawk.”

“The bubble mohawk?” I giggle, “I don’t know, I think I’d like to see that actually. Just make sure I’ve got a camera on me when you do break it out, yeah?” Lining my “lotions and potions” up on the counter, I look away, still trying to figure out what exactly is going on here, or what Kayce expects me to do, to say.

He must sense my hesitancy because he volunteers, “I hope I got the water hot enough. I know how you women like to scorch your skin off, but I’m afraid I’m just a bit too delicate.” He’s pushed himself into a full sitting position now. The water pools just under his chest and it takes everything in me to meet his eyes.

“So we are taking a bath together then?” I huff. “Because that’s not weird at all.” Still, I move to pull my blouse up and over my head, clipping my hair up so that it no longer hangs down my back. “And if you’re not actively in pain, then no, you don’t have the water hot enough. But that’s alright, I’ll manage.”

Ignoring my comment about the water, his eyebrows furrow once again in confusion. “Why’s it weird? You’re the one that suggested it.”

“No. I didn’t.” I shoot some side eye at him, because who in their right mind would suggest such a thing. Hopping around to remove my socks before balling them up and tossing them into the hall so that they don’t get wet, I continue, “And it’s weird because usually when grown adults take a bath together it’s only because something else is gonna follow.”

Rolling his eyes, he insists, “Yes. You did. You said you normally take a bubble bath for spa nights, so here we are, taking a bubble bath. And it’s not weird. I’m wearing my underwear, and I assumed you’d wear yours too. It’s no different than going swimming together.” He sounds way too exasperated for a conversation that is this stupid.

Remember how I said Kayce and I have never had trouble reading each other? Yeah I take that back. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I sigh, “That was not a suggestion. That was a statement. But thank you for the clarification. Now before I literally die of embarrassment, would you like the lavender hair mask,” I forcefully lift one colorful jar into the air, and then another, “or the apple?”

Looking as fed up as I feel, Kayce responds gruffly, “The lavender.”

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#yellowstone #kayce dutton #rip wheeler #john dutton #beth dutton #monica dutton #yellowstone oneshot #kayce dutton oneshot #kayce dutton x reader #kayce dutton x you #kayce dutton x original character #kayce dutton fic #kayce dutton fanfiction #kayce dutton smut #eventual smut #friends to lovers

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fanficforlife · 9 months

Text

Chapter Eight

Kayce was wrapped around you, pulling you back against his chest as you reached to turn your alarm clock off. "Mmm, no."

"Yes. We both have to go to work." You groaned as you rolled onto your side to face him.

When he stretched, his back cracked. "I love waking up next to you but your bed is too small. My bed's bigger."

"Your room is right next to your dad's."

"So?"

"You know what usually happens when we stay in the same bed."

"He won't care."

"I know but it's your dad."

"He knows I've been sleeping down here with you a few times a week and I'm pretty sure he knows we're not just sleeping most nights." He tickled your side and you squirmed.

"Stop." You giggled. His fingers stilled so you stopped wiggling. "I know that he knows we're not just sleeping but...I don't know...it would just be kind of weird having sex in the room next to his while he's in there."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He pulled your naked body against his. "Plus, I like hearing you moan my name so I'd hate for you to have to be too quiet."

"Kayce." Heat crept across your cheeks.

The smirk you loved formed. "Not quite like that."

"No? Well, this might help a bit." You pushed him onto his back and straddled him.

His hands ran up your thighs while his eyes traveled up your body. "Fuck, you're perfect."

Blush stained your cheeks and you leaned down to kiss him. "So are you." You smiled against his lips as your hand went between you.

"Fuck, baby." He moaned when you sunk onto him.

You began to ride him, your eyes never leaving his. His hands gripped your hips before one slid up your stomach and palmed your breast. He pinched your nipple and you clenched around him. "Kayc." You ground against him.

He let out a ragged breath and his hand quickly left your hip so he could sit up. Your lips crashed together as he effortlessly lifted you so you could wrap your legs around him. He pushed back into you and the two of you began grinding against each other, hitting the right spot over and over again. His arm slid around you and up your back, holding you close, while his other hand dug into your hip.

"Mmm." You moaned. One of your arms wrapped around his shoulders, your other hand slid into his hair.

"Baby." He groaned and you knew he was close. You nodded breathlessly, right there with him. "Come for me, Letty." And, you did, moaning his name. He was seconds behind you, watching while you came undone in his arms.

You both collapsed, a thin layer of sweat covering your bodies. "Wow." You said between gasps.

"Yeah. You are without a doubt the most amazing woman in the world." He rolled you onto your back and propped himself up on his elbow to look down at you. His perfect smile donned his face. "Seriously, how can every time with you be even better than the last?"

"I guess we were just made for each other."

"You're god damn right we were." He leaned in and kissed you long and slow. When he pulled back you could see a hint of concern in his brown eyes.

"What?" Your hand came up and brushed his hair off his forehead.

"Are you still good with...everything?"

You knew he was referring to sex and everything that went along with it. "Yes, I'm good."

"I try to be gentle but sometimes I can't help it because you're well, you. I don't hold you too tight or push you around or-"

"Kayce," you smiled up at the kind, caring man you loved, "everything you do is perfect. He is the furthest thing from my mind when I'm with you. And, to be honest, I kinda like it when you take charge and manhandle me a bit."

"I don't hurt you or-or scare you?"

"No. I know you would stop if I told you to and I know you wouldn't hurt me. It's just me and you every time we're together. whether it's you grabbing me to give me a kiss while I'm not paying attention or when we're doing more than kissing." A smile finally pulled at his lips and you rose to kiss it. "I love you."

"I love you more."

You giggled softly. "Come on. We need to shower and get dressed before Tate gets up."

"Yes, ma'am." But, he didn't. He leaned back against the headboard and watched you stand up. "I am the luckiest man in the whole damn world."

Your hand reached for the sheet that was covering the lower half of his body and pulled it off the bed. "And, I am the luckiest woman in the world." You bit your lower lip before wrapping the sheet around your naked body. "Hurry up or I'll be done before you get in there." A sweet smile pulled at your lips before you opened the door and poked your head out, making sure the coast was clear before you dashed across the hall with the sheet draped around you.

*****

"Ready, baby?" Kayce asked as the two of you stood inside the fence, next to his horse and a chestnut mare.

"I'm ready." His eyes surveyed your face and you giggled. Your hands came up to rest on his chest. "Kayc, how many times have I gone riding with you? Lots. I don't even know how many times. And, every time you've shown me how to do it. You've taught me how to sit, how to stop, everything. I'm ready."

"Okay."

You rose to your toes and looked into his worried brown eyes. "You don't have to be nervous. I had the best teacher on the ranch. I'll be fine." Your lips pressed against his. "Let's go."

A smile finally formed on his rugged face. "Get your sexy ass up there then." He chuckled when your cheeks darkened. "God, you're adorable."

"Stop." You gave him a gentle shove before climbing up and settling onto the saddle. "Hurry up and get your sexy ass up there slowpoke."

"Jeez, woman. What am I gonna do with you?" He smirked at you while he untied your horse from the fence railing before working on his.

"You have until we get to the meadow to figure it out." You smirked back at him before you got your horse walking, quickly turning it into a run.

"Letty!" He yelled before jumping onto his horse and bolting after you. When he caught up to you, you slowed your mare to a walk. "What do you think you're doing?!" He brought his horse alongside yours and grabbed the reigns so you couldn't run off again.

"I told you I had the best teacher."

"You could have fallen off."

You looked over at him. "Kace, I'm not made of glass."

"I know but you've never gone by yourself before."

"I have actually." A mischievous smile formed. "When you've all gone out checking fences or moving cows, your dad's been showing me. We thought it would be fun to surprise you."

"You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry." A giggle escaped and he gave you a playful scowl. "Do you think Storm will be okay to ride soon? It's not that I don't love this one," you pet the mare's neck that you were riding, "but-"

"But, she's not yours."

"Will she be strong enough to ride or, after everything she went through..."

His hand let go of the reigns and squeezed your thigh. "She's stronger because of what she went through." You knew he wasn't just talking about your horse. "Storm's doin' really good. She's a hundred times better than when she first got here, she's strong enough now. Next time you take her out walking in the corral, I'll bring a saddle and we can see how she does with it." You smiled at him and he smiled back. "Wait a second. You said you had the best teacher at the ranch. Did you mean me or Dad?"

"Your dad obviously."

A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Uh-huh. Well, since you're such a good rider, let me see what ya got."

"Race you the rest of the way?" Before he could answer, you and the mare were off.

*****

"Violet?" Tate's voice drifted outside to where you were sitting on the porch. "Violet?!" The door opened and he stuck his head out. "Vi- Oh, there you are."

"Hi." You smiled as he stepped outside, followed by his dad.

Kayce leaned down and kissed you. "Morning, baby. How did ya sleep?" He sat down in the empty chair next to yours before taking a drink from his coffee mug.

"Uh, Morning. I slept well. How about you?" You eyed the bruises on his face.

"It coulda been better."

Because last night he slept in his bed, not yours. The only time you, did see him yesterday was in the morning and he didn't have the bruises then so he had gotten into a fight with someone between then and now. He could see your wheels turning and he quickly took another drink.

"What are ya doin'?" Tate looked down at your lap, which was filled with photographs. "Did you take these?"

"Mhm." You answered shyly.

"Wow! You're really good."

Your cheeks started to return red from Tate's compliment. "Thanks, bud."

"Shit. Babe, he's right."

"Dad."

Kayce chuckled at his son's serious tone. "Right. Sorry. No swearing." He turned his attention back to you. "You didn't tell me you liked photography."

"I umm, I took pictures for the yearbook in high school and of places around town. The city used some in travel brochures, the newspaper printed a few of them, I even sold some prints but after high school...life happened and I stopped. Being here, it makes we want to again." You looked at Kayce and who had a soft, knowing smile on his and you smiled back. "So, what are you up to today? Tired of summer holidays yet?"

"No! School sucks." Tate scrunched his nose in disgust. "Oh! Guess what?!"

"What?"

"At breakfast, Grandpa said that since Dad's been working better, that me and Dad can move into the foreman's house."

Your eyes left Tate and went to Kayce, whose cheeks were a light shade of pink from embarrassment. "Really? That's exciting."

"Yeah! Wanna come help me pack up my room? I just need my toys and books, and my clothes. Grandpa said there's empty boxes in the storage room. Oh, wait. Do you have to work today?"

"I finished my work for the week yesterday so I have a three-day weekend. So, yes, I can come help you."

"Yay! I'll go help Grandpa get the boxes."

"I'll be there soon."

"Okay."

When the door closed behind him, you set the photos on the small side table nestled between the two chairs. "So."

"So." He reached for your hand and gave it a gentle tug. You went over and sat on his lap. "Uh..."

I won't start with his black and blue face then. "I thought Rip lived in the foreman's house."

"He does-did. Dad said, well, you heard Tate." Embarrassment flashed across his features again. "I've been doing better. I umm, I still get angry sometimes. I would never hurt you though. Never." He added quickly.

"I know you wouldn't." Your hand rested against the side of his neck, your thumb ran across his jaw carefully avoiding his bruised skin.

"I was the foreman but not really. I didn't act like it. I would lose my temper or not pay attention. Then you came. I wanted to be better, someone who was good enough for you because I sure as hell wasn't before."

"Kayc, you don't have to prove anything to me."

"Yes, I did. When I started getting back on track, Dad put me back in charge. Rip was doing it before."

Your eyes searched his face. "It was Rip."

"How..."

"The way you said his name." Your fingers trailed up and down his forearm while he held you.

His eyes went to your hand. "He just...he thinks he's always right. Especially, since he's been Dad's right-hand man since before I graduated. Then with everything that went on after...Tate, the navy." He looked up at you sheepishly but relaxed when he was met with your soft, caring eyes. "There's a rule on the ranch, no fighting and if you want someone to fight, it's the foreman. I admit Rip's been helpin' me work my way back up but yesterday he went off about something I said or didn't do, I can't even remember because it was stupid. I got mad and we fought. At least everyone knows who to fight now."

So he won. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

"I'm good, baby."

"So, I can kiss you?" You smiled.

A smile finally formed on his rugged face. "Come here." His hand slid into your hair and gently pulled you in. When you parted, Tate was standing there grinning. Kayce chuckled. "I guess it's time to start packing."

"I guess so."

"I get Violet!" Tate quickly grabbed your hand and you stood up.

"What if I want her to help me?"

"You wouldn't get anything done because you would just be kissin' the whole time."

A light shade of red stained your cheeks. "Okay. Let's go." You grabbed your pictures before ushering the giggling boy inside, with his dad on your heels.

"He isn't wrong though," Kayce whispered next to your ear before kissing the side of your head.

You gave him a playful shove. "Get to work."

"Yes, ma'am." He winked at you before grabbing the last two boxes that were sitting at the base of the stairs.

The second you crawled into bed, Kayce pulled you into his arms and you immediately cuddled against his side. "Mmm." You hummed in contentment as you rested your head on his shoulder. "This is nice."

"Mhm." His lips pressed a kiss on your forehead. "Thanks for your help today, baby."

"You're welcome. How does it feel to be in your own house?"

"It feels good, except for the fact that you're not in the same house anymore."

You giggled and tilted your head to look up at him. "I'm only what, a one minute walk away?"

"Yeah, but we've been in the same house for the last six months." He held you tighter when you curled in closer to him.

"It's hard to believe I've been here that long."

"Do you still like it here?"

"There's nowhere else on earth I would rather be." You stated after looking up at him.

He leaned in and your lips met for a long, sweet kiss before you settled back into his arms. "How come you stopped taking pictures? He was a piece of shit but even he couldn't have denied that you were amazing at it."

"After high school, I was going to work for a year to save up some money then go to school for photography. When Nick and I started dating he was okay with it. When I got back acceptance letters from the schools I applied to it was a couple weeks before my Mom died. She really wanted me to go. She was always really supportive." A sad smile graced your lips at the memory of her. "After she died Nick said he didn't want me to go. He said he would miss me too much, and he couldn't go with me because he just started working. And, it was too soon after she died so I wouldn't be able to focus at school. I should stay and move in with him because I couldn't afford a place of my own. I could apply again next year and he could come with me. When it was time to apply again he said he couldn't get transferred yet because it was still too soon."

"He could've though?"

"Yeah. When I found out I got mad but he said he did it for me. He said it was because I wouldn't make it through school let alone do it as a career. I wasn't that good. He told me it was because he couldn't leave yet so he didn't hurt my feelings. Then he went on about how I didn't have to work because his family was rich...I stopped doing it after that."

"Baby."

"It's okay. Being with him brought me here." You placed your hand on his cheek. "And, being here, being with you, it makes me want to again."

"He knew you were great at it, he just didn't want you to go because he was scared and jealous. If you want to go back to school for it, you should. I'm not going anywhere."

A smile pulled at the corners of your mouth as you tilted your head to look at him. "I'm perfectly happy doing what I am now. And, with Nick...I couldn't if I wanted to." He would find me...

"If you wanted to, I wouldn't let him anywhere near you."

"I know you wouldn't." Your heart swelled. The blanket slid around your waist as you left his side and climbed on top of him. You bent down, keeping your face inches from his. "I love you, Kayce."

"You have no idea how much I love you, Violet. " His hand slid into your hair and pulled you in. Your lips met for a slow kiss. The longer it carried on the steamier it became. After a few minutes, you both couldn't wait any longer.

Your hand pulled his boxers down just as far as they needed to before pulling your underwear to the side. A breathy moan left your lips when you sunk down onto him. He reached up and pulled you back down to crash his lips into yours. His lips parted so his tongue could explore your mouth. You continued to ride him and it wasn't long until you were close. "Kayc."

"Almost, baby." He gripped your hips and pounded into you.

"Mmm." The heat pooling in your core began to build rapidly. "Oh, god." His movements began to get messy and you knew he was on the edge. You ground into him once more before you both came together.

When you both came down from your highs, you collapsed next to him. His arms wrapped around you and tucked you against his side. "You could move in here. We've been spending more nights than not together lately anyway."

"Kayc," you shifted slightly so you could see his dreamy hazel eyes, "I love you and love spending the night with you but I think it should just be you and Tate here. I can still come and spend the night sometimes but moving in..."

He knew what you were thinking. "I know you're still scared that he's going to find you and you'll have to leave. You don't want to get too close." He moved onto his side to face you. His hand slid across your cheek and into your hair. "Violet, even if he does figure out that you're here, he is never going to get within a hundred feet of you. Everyone here will make sure of that. You're safe."

You nodded. "It's not just that." Your tongue slipped out and licked your dry lips. "You make me happy, happier than I have ever been. I'm scared of getting too close because if it ends, if we break up- I don't know what I would do without you and Tate."

"Baby, you are going to be stuck with me for the rest of your life." He stated firmly, his brown eyes pierced yours. You sniffed as tears welled in your eyes. A smile pulled at his lips while his thumb ran across your cheek. "I love you more than I ever thought was possible." Your lips met for a thorough, heartfelt kiss before he pulled you flush with his body. He swallowed your moan as the kiss became more passionate.

A sensual giggle left your lips when he climbed between your legs. You hooked your legs around his waist, pulling him closer.

"I can never get enough of you."

"Right back at you."

He smirked down at you before attacking your neck.

*****

Kayce made you wait in the truck while he got out and came around to your side, opening the door for you.

"Thank you." You smiled.

His hand immediately wrapped around yours. "I know going to a bar when we both don't drink seems stupid but they have the best burgers around. And, I know they're one of your favorites."

"You're the best." A giggle left your lips as you wrapped yourself around his arm. When you got to the entrance he let go of your hand and opened the door for you before placing it on the small of your back and guiding you inside. "I thought the ranch was cowboy, country-ish but this place..."

There were wood beams and posts, the bar was wood and the walls were clad in wood paneling. That's where the similarities between the lodge and the bar ended. Bottles of beer were put in metal pails with ice and served to you, there were neon signs with the names of popular beer brands. A large American flag hung on the wall. The floors were sheets of plywood and had the occasional piece of straw lying around that had been brought in by the cowboy boots that adorned everyone's feet.

"Yeah, it's nothin' fancy. We couldn't come here before because if we did come to town, Tate's been with us. I should've picked a better place for our first date off the ranch but you don't like fancy and food-"

"Food definitely wins." You finished with a grin. "Speaking of which, you mentioned something about burgers."

Kayce chuckled and slid his arm around your waist. "Let's find a table." As you moved through the crowded building towards a few empty tables, he kept pulling you closer and closer to his side.

You assumed it was because it was date night but even after you ordered your food, he sat on your left instead of across the small square table you were at. He also kept moving his chair closer and touching your hand or arm. Not uncommon since he was touchy-feely but not while his shoulders were squared. It wasn't until a man with a plaid shirt and brown cowboy hat came up to your table that you realized why.

"Kayce Dutton, is that you? I haven't seen you in god knows how long." He greeted even though his focus was entirely on you. "And, who is this fine thing? You're not from around here. I would've remembered someone as gorgeous as you."

Your boyfriend tensed up while he glared at the man. You placed your hand on Kayce's arm, silently begging him to calm down.

"Now I know why we haven't seen you in town lately. You've been shacked up with this sweet little thing at your daddy's house."

Kayce stood up abruptly, his chair falling back in the process. "Watch your fucking mouth."

"Easy tiger." The man chuckled and turned his hungry eyes back to you. "We went to high school together. I'm Jesse Miller. And, you are?"

"Not interested."

He clutched his shirt above his heart. "Ouch. You really know how to break a guy's heart."

"It's time for you to leave." Kayce fumed.

Jesse rolled his eyes before grinning at you. "I'll see you around, beautiful."

Your boyfriend's chest heaved, his fists started to come up, but Jesse left, rejoining his friends at the bar.

"Hey." Your hand wrapped around his fist, which unclenched. His fingers mixed with yours. You gave a gentle tug and he sat down on his chair that a server had picked up on their way by during the confrontation.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Are you?"

"I should've hit him for how he talked to you, for ruining our date." He started getting tense again so you ran your thumb across the back of his.

"He didn't ruin our date." You slid your chair closer to his and leaned in.

He did the same. "No?"

"No." Your lips pressed against his. When you pulled back, your teeth tugged on his lower lip. He let out a low growl and you giggled sensually. "Burgers first."

"And, you for dessert." His hand quickly slid into your hair and pulled you back in. This time you moaned when the brief yet toe-curling kiss ended. "Fuck, you're cute."

Your cheeks flushed as your server set your burgers and fries in front of you. After you both thanked her and she left, you brushed your foot against your cowboy's denim-covered shin. "I have a feeling you're going to need your energy for dessert so eat up."

"Yes, ma'am." He smirked the smirk that drove you crazy before picking up his burger.

"Okay, you were right about the burgers here. They are amazing. I'm so full, I can barely move."

Kayce chuckled and slung his arm around your shoulders, pulling you against him. He was about to say something when a cocky voice cut in.

"Leaving so soon, sweetheart?"

Your hold on Kayce's hand tightened as you continued walking past Jesse.

"Awe, come on, baby." Jesse's hand wrapped around your wrist. "I'm a hundred times more of a man than this loser ever will be."

"Get your fucking hand off her." Kayce spat. His old high school classmate released your arm and Kayce tucked you behind him.

"Can we go?" You asked your boyfriend, who was rigid with anger and shooting daggers at Jesse with his eyes.

"Run off and have your fun," Jesse smirked as he looked you up and down. "She'll be in my bed after because you couldn't satisfy her."

Your boyfriend's fist connected with the smug cowboy's face. "Kayce. Kayce, stop." He hit him a total of three times before his friends, who were at the bar with him, rushed to his side.

"I'm good. I'm good." Jesse said, stopping them from retaliating. He cracked his jaw and let out a chuckle. "The Navy taught you how to fight. I hear they taught ya how to kill too."

"Stay the fuck away from her," Kayce pronounced each word firmly, harshly.

"You make it sound like a challenge," Jesse's eyes bore into you, "everyone knows I never back down from a challenge."

The look in his eyes made you cower against Kayce. "Can we go? Please."

He immediately turned his attention to you. "Yeah, baby. Let's go home." His arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you against him when he saw you shaking. When you got to the truck, instead of going to the passenger door, he guided you to the driver's side.

You climbed up and stayed in the middle of the bench, wanting to be close to him. He reached across your lap and pulled you flush with his side before starting the truck and driving off.

"I'm sorry." The fingers on his right hand nervously fiddled with the hem of your dress. "What he said, the way he looked at you, grabbing your wrist; it wasn't right. He deserved it. I'm sorry if I scared you or if it made you think of him."

Memories of Nick had played through your head when Kayce got mad when he hit him, but he didn't need to know that. It would just make him more upset. "You don't have to apologize, Kayc." You wrapped yourself around his arm, reassuring him. "Jesse or whatever his name is creeped me out but that's it."

"You don't have to worry about him, baby. He's not going to touch you. I'll make sure of it."

After kissing his cheek, you cuddled against him, letting out a content sigh. He kissed your head and the rest of the drive was spent in a comfortable silence.

****************************************************

Tag: @saintnourah

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supergirl000983 · 1 year

Text

Just Y/N being Y/N pt.1

Y/N: welcome to dating advice with Y/N! Jamie what’s your question?

Jamie: How do you tell if a girl likes you?

Y/N: She doesn’t!!

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John: You remember that ranch hand you kicked in the face last week?

Y/N: Which one I kicked like 3

Beth: I’m sorry…what?

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Y/N: YOU WANNA SEE PAIN!!

Lee: Hey...let’s go over there.

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Lee: Come on, I wasn't that drunk last night.

Kayce: You were flirting with Y/N

Lee: So what? She's my fiancée.

Beth: You asked her if she was single.

Lee: ...

Jamie: And then you cried when she said she wasn’t.

John: Dumbass.

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John: I'm not doing too well.

Rip: What’s the problem sir

John: I have these headaches that come and go

Beth and Y/N: *Walk in the room*

John: There they go again

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Jimmy: How do Y/N and Beth usually get out of these messes?

Lee: They don't.

Rip: They just make a bigger mess that cancels the first one out

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Teeter *drunk*: me and Y/N sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i

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Jamie: I have a bad feeling about this…

Y/N: What do you mean?

Jamie: Don't you ever get that little voice in your head that tells you if you're going to get into trouble?

Y/N: …no?

Jamie: …that explains so much

——————————————————————

#yellowstone ranch #yellowstoneimagines #yellowstone #yellowstonetv #beth dutton imagine #lee dutton #lee dutton x reader #lee dutton imagine #jamie dutton #john dutton imagine #ripxbeth #rip wheeler imagine #rip wheeler #fanfiction #imagine

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countrymusiclover · 8 months

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Next Thing You Know

Kayce and the reader are more than best friends now. They’ve had to become full time parents too. That is no easy task especially with an entire ranch legacy on your shoulders. So everyday in true Dutton fashion they just have to roll with it…to keep the ranch lifestyle and name going. @hcwthewestwaswcn co author 🤗

Tag list - just ask to be added

@mandabrammer2021

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ahotmesswithprivilege · 1 year

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Never been a girl for gold

Word Count: 2248 Ship: John Dutton x reader Summary: When John brings the new woman in his life to the ranch for the first time he is in for a wild ride Warnings: use of Y/N, semi canon compliant, non beta read and written by a non native speaker (proceed with caution), cursing, age gap relationship. If I missed something that you think needs taging, please tell me and I am going to add it to the list Author’s note: This is the OS that was inspired by one of two prompts I have received so far (this specific one being sent in by @thebeckyjolene ). The complete prompt can be found at the end of the text because I wanted to avoid spoilers, but if you feel better knowing exactly what you get yourself into you can check it out. I would also love to hear any kind of feedback and if you want me to write a OS based on your prompt, my inbox for John, Kacey, Lee, Rip and Ryan is still open, so be my guest.

The last time John had been this nervous when he drove back from town to the ranch was way back when he was a teenager. Then he feared the wrath of his mother after staying all night at the bar without calling her first. His left hand tightly gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white and the right one resting on the leather seat curled into a fist, feeling the blood rushing in his ears and his heart thumping against his rib cage. “You okay, love?”, a soft voice pulled him back to reality, feeling gentle fingers wrapping around his hand, uncurling his stiff fingers to intertwine them with hers. John knew he should keep his eyes on the road, but he couldn’t help but let his gaze wander to the side, being met by the loving eyes of the woman right next to him. A sudden wave of calm washed over him, feeling the comforting way her thumb was stroking the back of his hand. “Yeah”, he replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. For the first time in a very long while he felt okay, even more so. He was genuinely happy, and the reason was sitting right next to him. As hard as it was, he moved his gaze back onto the road, hearing the gentle hum beside him before he felt her inching even closer, resting her head on his shoulder. Whatever it was that was waiting for him at home, he knew with Y/N by his side, it would be a walk in the park. It only took them a few more minutes until he pulled up on the driveway of the ranch, enjoying watching her take in the place he called home for the very first time as he put the car in park. Before she could get out of the car, he raised their entangled hands, pressing a gentle kiss onto the back of hers. “Ready for the lion’s den?”, he asked her, wondering yet again if he should have brought her here, to begin with. John knew his family was difficult and could be a lot, so he worried that once Y/N met them, she’d walk out the door and never come back. The mere thought of losing her was something that haunted him, a life without her being a torturous thought. “John...”, the small chuckle that rumbled in her chest started to melt his fear away. From the moment they had met, he had loved the sound of her gentle voice, the way she managed to give him a sense of home without him even knowing who she was. ” I am a woman working for an NGO, handling oil companies and land developers. I doubt they can throw something my way, I have never heard before” “From your lips to God's ears.“, John pressed another kiss to the back of her hand and took a last deep breath before he got out of the car. He put his cowboy hat on before making his way in an attempt to open the car door for her only to find her already getting out, her eyes glued to some paddocks with the horses munching on their well-deserved hay. He knew that she was a city girl, who had grown up in concrete wastelands, secretly dreaming of adventures as a horse girl one day. John approached her from behind, wrapping an arm around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “I’ll introduce you later. We have to get to the two-legged creatures first”, he murmured, fighting the instinct to press a kiss to her neck. He knew that this public display of affection was enough to get the wranglers' mouths running. He didn’t need to give them even more reason to gossip. “I hold you to that promise, cowboy”, she replied, turning around in his hold before she leaned in for a quick, chaste kiss. “I know”, he retorted, the chuckle falling from her lips making his heart flutter in his chest. How a single human being could hold so much power over him was beyond John, but with her, he didn’t mind. His arm wrapped around her waist again, hand on the small of her back to guide her over to the main house. He wanted to get over with this initial introduction as quickly as possible. It was like a band-aid. The longer he’d waited, the more painful it is to pull it off. With his hand hovering over the door handle he looked over at her once more, wanting to make sure that she was really ready for this. “Ready when you are, cowboy”, she replied to his silent question, entering the house with him. “Beth? Kayce? Are you here” “We are in the kitchen daddy”, he heard his daughter call, following the voice with Y/N beside him and instantly regretting the fact he hadn’t asked them to come to the living room. There were too many weaponisable things around the room for his taste and he knew Beth’s temper. She wouldn’t take this very well. “Why did you want us to come here? Is anything...” Beth started, stopping mid-sentence as she saw her father entering the kitchen, a woman only half his age glued to his side. “Going on”, she finished, gaze wandering over the other woman, like a predator sizing up its prey. John knew that look all too well and he was secretly happy that Rip was standing right behind his wife, knowing he was just as much on alert as John. "Kayce. Beth. Rip. This is Y/N", John introduced the woman beside him to his family, waiting for the reaction of his children. “I knew that there was a gold-digging bitch who got her claws into you. At least now I know the face”, she snarled, leaning over the kitchen counter with the typical Dutton fire burning bright in her eyes. John wanted to reply to the insult, but he felt Y/N lean into his side, that simple touch enough to make him stop in his tracks and quell his rage. At least for now. “Nah. Never been a girl for gold.”, she retorted, lifting her hand to John's chest, fingers spread on his flannel shirt, making all the eyes fall to the shimmering silver ring around her ring finger. There was no way to deny that this was indeed a wedding band she wore albeit, not a traditional one. With that reveal, Rip got himself ready to hold his wife back and even throw her over his shoulder need be, to carry her back to their cabin. “I personally prefer silver”, the new Mrs John Dutton added, the air in the kitchen tenser with every passing second. All men expected a bloodbath once the ticking time bomb that was Beth Dutton would explode, but all there was, was laughter. Roaring and body-shaking laughter, first by Beth and soon after she was joined by Y/N. Of all the outcomes John had pictured for this meeting, this was not something his mind had come up with. Using the shock of the men, the women moved around the counter, wrapping their arms around one another. “My dad is finally showing some taste in his choice of women”, the blonde said in between chuckles as she hugged the other as tight as she could. “Well, wonders will never cease”, Y/N murmured back, her hold of the other woman growing just as tight. When Y/N had met John, she had not for a second thought that he and her Beth Dutton had any connection, so to find the woman she considered as close as kin right here in the kitchen was a surprise, to say the least. “You know each other?”, John finally got out, not sure if he could trust the fragile peace he witnessed. “Yes. Remember when I told you about the girl from my dorm that was too kind for her own good?", she asked, her arm still wrapped around Y/N as she turned over to her father. It took John a moment to put the pieces together, making Y/N chuckle with the way she almost saw the small lightbulb going off over his head. " Yeah, Rose. But her name...", he started, confusion written over his face. "Never said it was, daddy"

The rest of the introduction went smoothly. Y/N even met Tate when he came home from school and the boy insisted on showing her the barn and introducing her to the horses, especially proud when she called his beloved mare the most beautiful of them all. The boy even promised to help her once she was ready to get on horseback herself. A lot would change for her now that she was here. So many new things to be learned and surely mistakes to be made, but whenever she felt like stumbling, John was right there to catch her. With the hustle and bustle of the ranch slowly dying down, Beth and Rip retired to their cabin and Kacey was getting Tate to bed, so Y/N finally had a chance to sit down on the porch, take a deep breath and watch the beautiful sunset. John had been right when he called this place heaven on earth and the thought that he had invited her here, to share this beauty with her for the rest of their days made the smile on her face grow wider. "This day was interesting...", the voice of John pulled her back to reality, making her look to the side where he stood in the doorway, walking over to her slowly before sitting down right next to her. "True... but it was good. I love this place. And your family", she said, snuggling closer into his side so he could lay his arm around her shoulder. "As of today, it's yours too..." "You are right. Our family" Hearing her say that made him smile, pulling her even closer to his body as his eyes wandered over the soft hills in the distance. The silence that fell between them was a comfortable one, but John couldn't help the question that had lingered in his mind since he learned who she was. Back when he first laid eyes on Y/N at the counter of the bar in Bozeman, he had felt foolish for even thinking he could have a chance with her. Not just because of their age gap, but also because he had seen what looked like a beautiful engagement ring on her finger... "A penny for your thoughts" "I just thought back to the night we met...", he began, taking her hand in his and lifting it to press a gentle kiss to the back of her hand, "The most beautiful woman I had ever seen sitting alone at the counter. Still not sure where that stupid bravery came from to approach you...", he told her, his fingers playing with hers while a giggle fell from her smiling lips. When Y/N met him she had just moved to the state, starting a new job with an environmental protection organisation and her place was still filled with boxes she desperately longed to escape that night. "Like, mustering up the courage to sit down next to you was one thing, but seeing that ring, I almost didn't talk to you", a little chuckle rumbling in his chest, "You have no idea how relieved I felt when you said it was a gift from your best friend", there was a question hidden in that statement and Y/N knew it, so she tangled her fingers with his, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "When I got the admission to university I was excited. I always wanted to work for an NGO and make the world a little better, so getting a chance to lay the foundation for that was thrilling and exciting. But there was this guy in my class. He was the picture-perfect stereotype. A misogynistic, rich white boy and dumber than dirt who got a legacy admission. I loved my courses and all, but he made it... difficult", she started, knowing that she was safe in her husband's arms while he felt anger boiling in his veins. "I had this flatmate and she was... practically a tornado with skin", a smile played on her lips as she remembered meeting Beth for the first time. "When the guy turned from annoying to creepy, she had the idea to play into his bullshit and she got me a ring...", Y/N reached for the leather band around her neck, revealing the ring she wore every day since she got it. A silver snake as the band, crowned by a rose. "A reminder that even though I am a delicate flower, I'd always have a serpent who would fight by my side if my thorns weren't enough", she chuckled, remembering how an off-handed joke about a Lady Lady Macbeth quote turned into a physical representation of their very unlikely friendship. The silence that fell between her and John this time was different, the air heavier between them. "I know I already made you a promise today, but I'll make you another...", he began, resting his hand on her cheek to make her look into those green eyes that had bewitched her from the first moment she saw them, his forehead gently resting against hers, "As long as you are with me, you’ll never need these thorns"

OG Prompt: I was wondering if I could request a Yellowstone imagine where John Dutton brings his newlywed wife back to the ranch and introduces her to everyone and that the Reader and Beth are best friends!

#john dutton #john dutton x reader #yellowstone fanfiction #yellowstone fanfic #yellowstone ff

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keep-the-wolves-close · 8 months

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Steady Heart Masterlist

Steady Heart

(Spotify playlist link in the title)

Rating: M

Pairing: Slow-burn Kayce Dutton x Stella Daniels OFC

When a sudden death happens at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, Stella Daniels is forced deeper into the world of her employer, John Dutton. It’s much further than her experience from just working with the horses and being an extra wrangler when needed. Now Stella, her brother Ryan, and her best friend Kayce; her employer’s youngest semi-estranged son, have to navigate finding their place within the ranch’s not-so-clean dealings and the challenges that come their way.

#yellowstonetv #kayce dutton #luke grimes #ryan - Yellowstone #Ian bohen #kayce dutton fanfic #kayce dutton fanfiction #yellowstone fanfic #yellowstone fanfiction #steady heart #rip wheeler #john dutton #beth dutton #yellowstone tv #yellowstone

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ericaand · 2 months

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i am so sorry for the comment i left, i was jus too excited!! no seriously though, i apologize. but since your taking requests for Kayce Dutton…

I would love it if you could write a bsfs to lovers??

Like maybe reader grew up on the ranch with the Duttons bc she had some connection to one of the ranch hands or jus was bsfs with one of the Dutton siblings so she became Kayces bsf. Maybe he and Monica split up or they were never together (you decide) and maybe some SERIOUS AMAZING TENSION WITH THE BEST LOVE CONFESSION😍

again, thank you! and i’ll keep requesting as long as this writers block is here bc i need me and love me some Kayce!!

Seriously had a ton of fun writing this. Enjoy, and send MORE! Please.

Pairing: Kayce Dutton x Fem!Reader

Words: Almost 2k.

Warnings: slight mentions of blood. underage alcohol use. That's about it.

"You know, I hate how much I care about you." Kayce's eyes burn into yours, scanning from right to left continually.

He balls his hand into a fist and speaks through clenched teeth, "Because I know..."

He pauses, loosens his stance, and hangs his head sighing, "I shouldn't."

Earlier that day:

Driving down the familiar driveway, you began to reminisce on all the time you spent on the ranch as a child. With each spin of your tires, the car filled with dust; the smell taking you back to a time when things were easy, and playing with boys was just that: playing.

You hadn't returned to the ranch since your best friends, Kayce and Monika, married. It was too much. Too much pain. Too much hurt. Too much love.

In fact, you weren't even sure you could consider them your best friends anymore. Now, they were each other's best friend. And you? You were just the third wheel now. Sure, you talk to Monika on occasion, mostly through texting. But even that hadn't happened in months. There hasn't been any contact with Kayce at all. Except for the occasional grocery store visit. But even then, it's not like it used to be. Your hellos now feel hollow. But at least the goodbyes don't hurt as much anymore.

You weren't really sure what to expect when you got to the ranch. You knew John and Beth, and Rip would probably be happy to see you; you never really saw them at all anymore. The ranch hands were always fun to spend time with. But now, it feels different. Now, the childhood magic has drifted away, not just from the ranch but from you.

You continue to drive, spotting the tall white silo. Instantly, you're envisioning three little kids chasing after each other, round and round the silo. The side of your mouth curves into a smirk.

You put it in park and take a deep breath, leaning your head back and closing your eyes. When you've conjured up enough courage, you step out and make your way toward the corral. Your steps are slow, hands in your back pockets, head down; until you hear someone yell.

"Y/N! That you?"

You look up to see Rip, slowly trotting over to you with a smile. You tilt your head and smile with a shrug.

"Well, I'll be damned! If it ain't little Y/N." He swings his leg around the horse and graciously hops down. He wraps his arms around you, as you wrap yours around his waist.

He grips your shoulders and pushes you away from himself. "Let me get a good look at ya." He clicks his tongue a few times as he shakes his head.

"You look just like your momma. Beautiful. Whatcha doin' here, kid?"

"Well, looks like you and your boys are obviously starving." You say sarcastically, waving your hand toward the horse corral. "You're lookin at the new Dutton Ranch chef. John called me a while back and asked if I could come help out while Gator was away. I couldn't turn it down. I mean, who says no to John?"

"I sure as hell don't." Rip lets out a quick breath. "See ya later, kid. Can't wait for dinner. I always miss your mommas cooking."

You make your way to the house slowly, letting the wind flow through your hair. You stop dead in your tracks when you spot the small circle of Adirondack chairs in the front yard.

You recall it being the last weekend of summer, all those years ago. A soda bottle filled with whiskey from John's stash was being passed around between the three of you. The fire gently lights the faces of your friends. All that was heard was the crackling, the laughter, and the crickets.

"Dance with me?" The boy with dusty blonde hair reached his hand out to you. You took his hand as he delicately helped you out of your chair.

You draped your arms over his shoulders, as you began to sway slowly. Although the musk of whiskey was strong, you could smell faint bits of his cologne; pine began to fill your nostrils.

"I've gotta pee!" Monika shouted, stumbling toward the house.

You rested your head on his chest as you both continued to sway in sync, his hands resting on your hips.

"This is so perfect, Kayce. I don't want it to end. The stars. The fire. You." You mumbled.

Kayce stopped moving and lifted your chin with his finger. "What?"

"You heard me." You smiled.

Kayce slowly began to dip his head down, until you both heard Monika assert herself by asking when it was her turn for a dance. Kind and caring Kayce pulled you back into a hug and kissed the top of your head, barely whispering, "Me neither."

"You gonna stand there all day? Or are you gonna come cook some supper?" Someone hollared from the porch.

You blinked to reality, seeing John leaning on one of the stone pillars. You smiled as you began to walk towards him, him now walking toward you.

"How are ya, darlin? We sure have missed seeing you around here." John says, pulling you in for a hug. "I'm sorry about your Mom. She was my favorite chef, you know. Well, you might change that."

"Thanks, Mr. Dutton. I missed it here, brings back a lot of memories though." You spoke into his chest.

"Its John, especially to you. You know that. Where's your stuff?"

"It's, uh, in the truck. Should I -" He cuts you off.

"Eh, well have Rip grab it later. Let me just show you where you'll be staying real quick."

John escorts you up a log staircase and to one of the bedrooms. After informing you where everything was, he motioned for you to follow him to the kitchen. Nothing had really changed in the Dutton home. Maybe some updated furniture, but that's about it. You almost felt like it was a time capsule.

The kitchen was small but extremely functional. You walked through, gently grazing your fingers across the beautiful stove. You turned to meet John's gaze.

"Things have changed a bit, but this will work for you, right?" He asked.

"Absolutely." You said with a smile.

"I'll leave you to it." He said, turning and walking away.

You pulled ingredients from the fridge and various cupboards, chopping and prepping. You began to feel the frustration build in you from not knowing your way around the kitchen. You grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge, popped the top, and chugged as much as you could down in one gulp.

You tilted your head back to finish the bottle and turned to put it in the sink, only to be met with another body next to you. There stood Kayce with his back and hands leaning on the counter, smiling cheekily at you.

"Just like I remember." He said.

"Hi, Kayce." You replied, placing the bottle in the sink and going back to the stove.

"You know, I thought I was seein' a ghost." He laughed. "What're you doing here?"

Not taking your eyes from the stove, you replied. "You're looking at the new chef. I'm filling in for Gator while he's gone."

He nodded with pursed lips. "Well, I'm gonna go get washed up."

You turned and nodded with a smile, as he began to walk away. Why was Kayce here? Last you heard he was living on the reservation with Monika.

You filled large serving dishes with the meal for the night and began to place them in the middle of the table, in front of John, Kayce, and Beth.

"Enjoy, guys." You forced a quick nod, wiped your hands on your apron, and moved to leave the room.

"Y/N, stay. Eat. Please. You're not just a chef here. You're family." John spoke.

"Oh...okay. Uh, thank you." You said meekly, pulling your apron over your head and laying it over the back of a chair. Kayce slid the chair next to him out and gestured for you to sit. You obliged.

As you sat and ate, everyone caught up with each other's lives and reminisced about the good times that were had years ago. You noticed that your wine glass never seemed to be empty, but you didn't mind. There were a lot of emotions going on, so a little numbness was welcomed.

You couldn't help but notice that Kayce continually touched your shoulder with his, and you seemed to be the focus of his attention tonight. During dinner, you found out why Kayce was here, and not with his wife and son. He expressed that Monika wanted nothing to do with the ranch and didn't feel it was a good place for Tate. She told him she needed space.

As dinner finished, you piled the family's plates on top of yours and began to balance them into the kitchen, only to realize upon standing that you were much more inebriated than you thought. Before you could even stop it, one plate fell right after the other; shattering on the ground.

The tears began to flow, out of embarrassment and fear combined. You quickly dropped to your knees and attempted to pick up the tiny pieces scattered all around. Unknowingly, while picking up the shards of plates, you were also cutting small slices into your hands. You felt hands on your shoulders.

"Y/N? What happened? Stop, stop. It's okay." Kayce shouted.

You stood and brought your shakey hands over the sink, small drops of blood dripped into the basin.

"I thought I could do this. I thought I could come back here. I figured it'd been enough time. I didn't know it would hurt so much. Between everything that happened with you. And now with Mom..." You cried.

Kayce stepped behind you, his chest pressed to your back. He turned on the faucet, took your hands in his, and gently rinsed each finger and cut slowly. You leaned your head back against his collarbone, wincing at the water stinging your nerves.

After he finishes rinsing your hands, he turns you around and blots your hands tenderly with clean paper towels.

"You know, I hate how much I care about you." Kayce's eyes burn into yours, scanning from right to left continually.

He balls his hand into a fist and speaks through clenched teeth, "because I know..." he pauses.

He loosens his stance and hangs his head sighing, "I shouldn't."

You rest your forehead on his.

"Why?" You ask.

You both pull away to face each other, the eye contact almost unbearable.

"Because I fucked up...I fucked up a long time ago. And if I didn't, well, maybe things would've been different." He shook his head and stared out the window behind you. "I wouldn't trade Tate for the world. But I don't know why I didn't just speak up. I didn't want to be with Monika. But we were having a baby, what was I supposed to do?"

"Hey, you did the right thing." You cupped his face in both your hands, forcing him to look at you again. "You were having a baby! What else were you supposed to do?"

"I was supposed to be with you. I wanted to be with you. I love you, Y/N. There's no one else I ever saw myself making a life with." He lamented.

You moved your arms to drape over his shoulders, memories of that night flooding back to you again. In the same fashion, Kayce hooked a finger under your chin to align his lips with yours. Warmth flowed to your cheeks. His lips met yours, soft and tender. It felt like home.

MASTERLIST

#kayce dutton fanfic #kayce #luke grimes #kayce dutton #dutton family #dutton #yellowstone fanfiction #yellowstone ranch #yellowstone #fanfic writing #fan fiction #fanfiction #fanfic #ericaand request #ericaand writes

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dameronscopilot · 1 year

Note

🍑 please can i ask for kayce dutton + size kink?

kayce dutton x f!reader

18+ — size kink, messy foreplay, edging, unprotected p in v, rough sex, creampie

"You're gonna kill me, woman."

Gone is Kayce's steady, confident drawl that whispered smoothly in your ear down in the kitchen as his hands wrapped around your waist, fingertips brushing against the soft, cotton material of your new sundress.

His tone is rough now, wavering precariously as his jaw grows more slack with each roll of your hips, pupils unfocused as his gaze flits from your naked form to the ceiling fan that's slowly rotating above.

Kayce's doing his best to be patient, he really is. Despite the fact that his balls are fucking aching with anticipation, heels digging in as far as the mattress will give, and he's nearly drawn blood twice from how hard he's repeatedly bitten his lower lip.

But he'll wait.

He always does.

Because the pool of pre-cum spilling across his chest and his flushed, throbbing cock are worth it, worth this—

He groans, eyes falling shut as you drag your damp folds down his shaft once more. You're so fucking wet, your inner thighs and Kayce's cock and balls are soaked with your arousal, and each time you run your hot core along the creamy, slippery trail of his erection, the slick sound that follows is downright filthy.

You can't help it, this need to rut against him like a bitch in heat. Because the fact of the matter is: Kayce's cock is long and thick, far bigger than anyone else you've ever been with.

And while you didn't particularly think that size mattered much before him, now, the mere thought of the delicious feeling of him stretching you open like nothing else ever has finds you needily clenching your thighs together at all hours of the goddamn day.

"'m gonna come like this if you don't let me fuck you soon, honey," he pants out, callused fingers grasping at your left hip.

It's happened before, because you have a tendency to get more than a little cock drunk sliding up and down on his erection—it just feels so fucking good. And you'd be lying if you said you didn't love edging both Kayce and yourself nearly to brink.

Because when you do finally let the head of his dick catch against your fluttering entrance, that's when he takes charge—

Kayce's quick to flip you over, driving his cock into your cunt in one slick, hard snap of his hips, burying himself to the hilt.

"Oh fuck," he breathes out, forehead falling against yours.

You feel so full like this, with the pressure of Kayce's girth stuffed inside of you, body wracked with pleasure as your tight walls clench down on him.

When you're both this keyed up, it doesn't take long for Kayce to drag you over the edge with his deep, rough plunging thrusts as he murmurs, "Come for me."

Kayce's lips slot against yours, kissing you fervently as his climax follows, and you moan into his mouth at the feeling of his cum spurting deep into your cunt.

▸more appeteasers 🍑

#kayce dutton x reader #kayce dutton #kayce dutton smut #yellowstone #yellowstone fanfiction #answers from the cockpit #appeteasers 🍑#luke grimes fanfiction

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bellarkeselection · 9 months

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Giving Second Chances

Gifs above don't belong to me they belong to their rightful owner

Wattpad request from Silverose365 Reader is a trouble teen the state is having trouble with so after multiple failed foster families the state calls John. The reader accidentally messed up on a job and gets called out until Rip makes a different choice than her previous foster family's.

John and Rip followed Sheriff Haskell out into one of the barns on the ranch. The three stops in the entrance seeing someone peaking their head over one of the hay bails. John slowly walked forward trying to not scare the girl off that looked to be a young teenager reminding him of meeting young Rip. “Hey there, kid. I ain’t gonna hurt you. Do you wanna come talk with us?”

“Where’s the girl from?” Rip crossed his arms looking at Sheriff Haskell.

He responded to John’s right hand. “She’s been bounced from foster home to another. She’s got a bad streak of breaking the law. I got a call saying the foster system was sending her to him until she bolted. Thankfully she ended up where they we’re taking her. Bringing her to John.”

Lifting my gaze up to the older cowboy guy wearing a tan cowboy hat I watched him bend down to her level. “Are you going to send me back to foster care….I don’t do good in that place. They all say I’m too old and reckless.” I had been moved around where I just started running away every time they sent me back in the system.

“I ain’t sending ya back. My name is John Dutton, what’s your name darlin’?” The rancher asked me offering his hand and I allowed him to pull me to stand up with him seeing another guy by the sheriff that was dressed in black with dark hair and hard eyes staring at me.

I nervously responded back to him. “Y/n. My name is Y/n, sir…what are doing now?”

“You come work for me.” John said looking at the man calling his name so I could put it with his face before he left us in the barn together. “Rip, you’re gonna teach her the way I did you.”

It had been a few months since that day and this is the longest that I have ever been in compared to my other foster homes. Placing a dark brown hat on my head I slide my brown boots on heading to the Yellowstone barn. Throwing a saddle on Lioyd’s horse I started tying it on until I heard one of the bunkhouse cowboys coming over to me. I believe Walker was his name. “It looks like a a cowgirl doesn’t know how a saddle goes on a horse.”

“What…what did I do?” I panicked beginning to twist the sterups and the back sinch backwards before I ran my hands through my hair.

Walker came over on his horse. “You put the saddle on backwards kid.”

“Crap, crap.” I mumbled under my breath quickly fixing it until John came over to me seeing that I avoided his gaze mumbling to myself unknown that he could hear me. “How could I put the entire saddle on backwards. That was stupid. I should have known that.”

It wasn’t the first the older rancher had seen her be hard on herself after she made some mistakes or didn’t be s quick as what the cowboys had told her to do something. And she would end up beating herself up over failing. John just hoped the girl saw that she was a good hand like he did. Because she was almost the same way when he found Rip years ago.

Walking through the barn I nodded to my boss Rip Wheeler who was walking with his horse when he noticed me. He climbed up on his horse addressing in my direction. “Y/n, got saddle Mr. Dutton’s horse. You’ll be riding it today with us to learn how to ride.”

Running inside the barn I took the reins of the boss’s horse tying the rope on the side of the wooden fence. Tossing the saddle over the horse I quickly tied it together. Putting me foot in the stirrups up Rip called my name. “Woah you think you’re forgetting something kiddo.” Shifting my gaze down to the ground I hadn’t noticed my hat fell off during the process.

“Ah shit…sorry sir.” Snatching it up I placed it on my head quick climbing back on the horse knowing he didn’t like wasting daylight and I always followed his instructions as fast as he said them.

Rip had me following behind him where I griped the reins in my hands bouncing with the horse watching the others herding the cattle in front of us. Normally he was leading the pack but not today. “Go herd up the ones on the side that get loose. You got that?” He kicked his horse to go when I nodded in understanding.

Running down the valley I followed after one cafe that got loose leading it back to the group. Staying close to the group another one got loose where I grabbed my rope throwing it over it head trying to lead it back but it just picked up sped. I screamed when it managed to pull me off my horse and I fell into the dirt. “No, no,…ah fuck!”

“Woah girl, are you alright?” Lioyd came over on his horse holding the reins of mine since it ran off towards him so he brought my horse back over to me.

Holding my right wrist I winced when I tried to bend it a little. “I think I just tweaked my wrist a bit….I thought I roped it the right way.”

“You roped it around the neck when it should have been around the waist so he wouldn’t run on ya. Climb back on your horse and help us finish this out.” Rip responded sternly beside his older friend.

Scurring to my feet I put one foot in the stirrup using my left hand to support most of my weight than my right. I should have done better, sir.” I apologize when Rip glared at me watching me ride off with Lioyd figuring that she meant well.

Once nightfall had come and everyone had their horses up for the night I didn’t come down to the bunkhouse for dinner since I was staying in the spare room of Rip and Beth’s house. Brushing my hair away from my face I had banded my wrist as best as I could and put everything I had in the duffel bag foster care had given to me. I just needed to wait until everyone went to bed to run rather then wait till morning already knowing what would happen. I had messed up way more than someone my age should. “I’m too old to get adopted….I will be better off just waiting until I’m eighteen. Only two more years left being someone else’s problem..”

“When I said don’t think you deserve this. I meant it literally but I didn’t you’d run from it.” Whipping my head around I gasped through tears seeing Rip was leaning in the doorway of my bedroom.

Croaking through tears I scooted up against the pillow and headband avoiding his gaze. “How did you know I’d be here?”

“Cause you didn’t come down for dinner and you ain’t missed a meal since the day you came here. You want to tell me what’s going on with you?” He presses on with his tone being both stern but went softer when he could hear me lightly crying in front of him.

Hugging my knees to my chest I buried my face into them sobbing even more when I struggle to get the words out already sensing what he was going to say next. “I’m a screw up here, Mr. Wheeler. I can’t do half the jobs you give me right…I don’t have great confidence even when I put in as much effort as I can. You see me exactly like everyone else does…a reckless teenager who won’t make it any longer in getting adopted. Cause I don’t follow directions good….so you’re done with me. You’re going to send me back tomorrow.”

“Where the hell did you get an idea like that, sweetheart?” He blurted out raising his voice in shock.

Peaking over my knees with my hair in my eyes I whispered back to him. “That’s what every family I have been with does. Why would you be any different to me?”

“Because you are the hardest working foster kid I have seen. You’ve got good manners and put in almost more effort than any of those bunkhouse boys do. And you ain’t any reckless than most teenagers are.” He came over and sat beside me on the bed removing his black hat when he went to take something out of his jacket. He unfolded a paper and handed it to me. “You are a darn good kid, Y/n. I am hoping to help you improve your confidence in time being here.”

Scanning my eyes over the paper in my small hands I couldn’t hardly believe it. “You want to adopt me..but I….thank you Rip.” Flinging my arms around his neck he was taken back not used to seeing me giving any kind of emotion like this.

“You’re welcome, darling. But promise you will still work as hard as you would if you weren’t gonna be my kid.” He hugged me briefly until he made me look in his eyes when he barely broke the embrace.

Nodding through happy tears I grinned up at the cowboy and lead hand of John Dutton. “Don’t worry I will..uh dad.”

Footsteps came down the hallway where we both glanced over over shoulders noticing that it was his wife. “You better call me mom and come eat this hamburger helper otherwise you’ll face the bear.”

“Yes ma’am.” I jumped off his lap rushing down the hallway making it to the kitchen table almost shoving food into my mouth overjoyed to actually have a place to call home.

Beth smiled at her husband when he stood by her in the hallway watching you. “She’s our kid now, baby.”

“She’s our second change at one and I gotta say she’s a pretty good one.” He responded looping his hand with hers giving her a gentle and the pair joined you at the dinner table.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

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c0wgurlz · 1 year

Text

Trouble On My Left, Trouble On My Right

Chapter 1: Sweet Caroline

Kayce Dutton x Reader/OC - Friends to Lovers

He grabs ahold of the belt loops on either side of my hips. “I just-” he shakes me, “I’m tired of people treating me like some wounded animal or-or like some bomb just waiting to go off. You’re the one person who-,” he licks his lips, “you’re my person. Please don’t do that to me.”

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UPDATE: CHAPTER 2

I'm a long-time fic writer and an even longer reader, but this is my first attempt at writing for Yellowstone. If ya'll have any notes on characterization or just anything in general, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading xx.

As always: I do not own Yellowstone (2018) or any of its characters. This work is not monetized.

THIS FIC IS CROSSPOSTED TO AO3. It is not posted to any other site. I am lookingcold on AO3 and that is all. I do not give permission for my work to be posted by others to any other platform.

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I was no stranger to the Yellowstone Ranch, but bumping my way along its seemingly never-ending dirt drive, I still couldn’t help but feel out of my depth - like a little kid made to ride a bike with no training wheels. Its sprawling pastures surrounded by the towering mountains, standing at attention like century guards, intimidated me, and I had spent nearly every day of my childhood gallivanting around the property. I can only imagine how outsiders feel the first time they dare to mosey onto the ranch. Now, all this isn’t to say that I wasn’t looking forward to returning to Yellowstone, I undoubtedly was, but being there at the (somewhat) wisened age of twenty-seven felt significantly riskier than it had at the naive age of seventeen. The Yellowstone was trouble, and I had spent the last ten years of my life trying to stay out of it. Putting myself right back into its clutches went against every instinct I have.

Still, I was excited to see the people I had come to know as family. When my daddy died when I was only twelve, Mr. John treated me like one of his own, and when my momma remarried a man who was known for his fiery temper and love of the drink, he took me in as his own. My daddy and Mr. John had been best friends, so truly I think he felt as though it was his duty to care for me, but I like to believe he loved me all the same. And I loved him back. He taught me everything I could ever need to know - plus some. Helped put me through college. Even supported me when I wanted to take on the pageant circuit - although I don’t believe he minded the extra bit of shine my winning of Rodeo Queen added to his reputation. Hell, I even loved his ragtag group of kids, Jamie included if you can believe it. They were my family, and I wouldn’t have traded them for the world. Except I did, because Yellowstone was trouble, and I couldn’t let myself get caught up in that. And neither could Mr. John.

Sneaking up on Rip was somewhat of a talent I had cultivated over my long years spent on the ranch. I’m proud to say that I’m still the only son of a bitch who can do it. And that’s why I park my truck a good half mile down the road from the corrals. There’s a small hill in the dirt drive that obscures the shoulder of the road as you approach the house, one that Kayce and I used to hide away in, smoking or drinking, trying to stay out of trouble while getting into it. I park my truck on that hidden shoulder, closing my door as quietly as I can before approaching the road. As I walk, I stick as close to the fence line as possible, relying on the looming fence posts to provide me with cover. I know that if I can make it past the corrals unseen and circle around the back of the barn I’ll have Rip jumping a foot in the air before he can even catch a whiff of me. Lucky for me he’s locked in on what I can only describe as clownery, supervising some gangly kid as he works to stay on a bronco. Taking my golden opportunity, I creep through the barn, hushing whinnying mares as I go, before sidling right up to Rip’s left side.

“Now that kid has got balls of steel,” I comment, hands splayed across my hips, head nodding in appreciation.

I wish I had the words to appropriately describe Rip’s reaction. With a little hop and shout, Rip whirls on me, hand splayed across his chest, breath thundering in shock. “Jesus, what in the fuck do you think-” And that’s when he realizes who exactly he’s about to chew out. His eyes go wide and a grin starts to stretch across his weathered face. “Well as I live and breathe, if it isn’t sweet Caroline herself, gracing us with her beauty.” He takes a step towards me. “Come ere ya little menace!”

Before I know it I’m wrapped up in the warmest, most comforting bear hug on earth. If Mr. John had been like a father to me, then Rip had been like a big brother. My protector and confidant - and the target of my and Kayce’s many pranks.

“Where have ya been?” He jostles me around. “Haven’t heard from you in over a year, and haven’t seen you in well over that. Too busy for us old cowpokes?”

I hold onto his hands, squeezing them. “Well I haven’t been ignoring ya’ll on purpose, I’ve just been a bit busy. I -” And that’s when Mr. John comes ambling down the lodge steps, casual and collected as ever.

“She’s been in Oklahoma, working PR for the rodeo circuit. And based on what I hear, she’s pretty damn good at it.” Before I know it I’m embraced in a fierce hug, and if I didn’t know better I’d say I heard Mr. John sniffle. “It’s good to see you, honey. Welcome home.”

Rip looks between myself and Mr. John, confused. “You mean Caroline’s back working the ranch? We ain’t got any beds left in the bunkhouse.” At this, he turns to me, “Not that I’d expect you to sleep there but I know how stubborn you can be about doing what’s right.”

Mr. John cuts him off. “No.” He responds gruffly. “She’s not here as a ranch hand, she’s here as my PR specialist.” Casting Rip a pointed look, he murmurs, “Ya know with all the problems we’ve encountered lately I thought we should call in an expert to help with damage control, and who better than family.”

Rip nods gravely, a closed expression covering his face that I don’t particularly like the looks of. “Well if that’s what she’s here for then I’ll leave you two to talk privately. I’ve got wranglers to wrangle and supper to check on.” He turns to walk away, but pauses, angling his body towards me. “If you need me, Caroline, for anything, don’t hesitate to shout.”

He looks so serious, so grim, I feel the small, unsure age of eleven all over again. “Ok.” I nod, my voice coming out thin and reedy. “I will.”

“I mean it.” He’s firm. “Anything.”

“I know Rip.”

With that, he gives a final tip of his head to Mr. John and I, stalking off to holler at the gangly kid - Jimmy.

“What was that all about?” I turn to Mr. John, big-eyed and pale.

Looking resigned he says, “You know Rip, he’s just protective of you is all, and he knows I’m about to ask a lot of you, get you involved in stuff we normally would try to keep you out of.” He shakes his head, knocks one of his boots against the other. “But you’re my last resort honey, you have to know that. I wouldn’t drag you into trouble if I thought I could help it. Honest.” His voice is so sincere, soft in a way it rarely is. I would have believed him anyways, but now there’s no doubt in my mind. I have to do right by Yellowstone, by the Dutton family, by my family. I have to stay, wade through the trouble, and bring everyone out on the other side.

“Tell me everything I need to know.” It comes out harder than I expected, harder than I’ve ever heard my own voice. It makes Mr. John look up. His features turn steely, matching mine. We’re in this together now.

“Walk with me, let me show you where you’ll be lodging. I’ll fill you in.”

Ten years of keeping clear of trouble down the drain, but I owed Mr. John, owed Yellowstone, a debt, and I wasn’t about to not repay it.

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To say that what Mr. John had shared with me was shocking would be an understatement. Land and cattle disputes I had expected, helping Jamie and Beth campaign - sure, I figured (well maybe not Beth), but murder? Can’t say that was anywhere on my radar, or anywhere in my wheelhouse. If I’m being honest with God and myself, if it weren’t for my love for Mr. John and the Dutton family, I would’ve turned the job down. Any PR specialist with a brain would because what the Duttons needed was a criminal defense lawyer, not some cowgirl who’s good at turning nasty scandals into marketable flattery. But I do love the Duttons, and I love Yellowstone, so from the looks of it, if this ship goes down, I’m going with it.

Mr. John must think it wise to give me time to mull over the absolute bomb he’s just dropped on me, because after he breaks the news and confirms that I’m still willing to stick around, he goes silent, his face settling into a contemplative furrow, the same as mine. It isn’t until the foreman’s house comes into view that I break the silence, slightly bewildered.

“We making a pit stop or something?” I gesture to the house in the distance, halting my gait.

Mr. John breezes past me, only turning his head back to answer my seemingly stupid question. “No darling, I’m showing you to your lodging, like I said I would.” Darling is reserved for when I’m being a moron, honey as a term of endearment, and cowgirl for when I’m about to get what’s coming to me. I’ve not even been back an hour and I’ve managed to collect two of the three, and I’m not too keen on collecting the third.

I wait until he looks away before rolling my eyes. That would’ve earned me a ‘cowgirl’ for sure. “Well, who died and made me foreman because I sure as hell don’t have the beard or buckle to pull it off.” I hustle to catch back up with him, bumping his shoulder against my own, knowing I’m toeing the line between a chuckle and a swat. Thankfully I’m gifted with the chuckle.

“You know I keep waiting for your beard to come in, but I remain disappointed.” He shoots me a wink. “But no, I don’t want you as my foreman as much as you don’t want to be my foreman. No worries there.” He side-eyes me. “Kayce’s taken over from Rip, so this is his place now. I just thought you’d want to be out here with your partner in crime rather than cooped up in the lodge with an old fart like me.” I know he’s aiming for casual as he explains my living situation to me, but if my many years spent living at Yellowstone had taught me anything, it was how to read John Dutton. And right now, I can tell he’s up to no good - more so than usual.

“Right, because living in that big snazzy house would be so terrible. I think you’re just trying to keep me and Beth apart. Too scared to live under the same roof with us both. Can’t say I blame you.” And while I really wouldn’t blame him for not wanting to live with me and Beth - if she’s a terror alone, with me she’s a terror and a half - I have a sneaking suspicion Beth and I’s potential reign of terror isn’t the true cause of his decision. But I sure as hell can’t let him know I’m onto him.

He chuckles again, in an almost relieved sort of way. “You’ve got me there. I’d rather keep my sanity, thank you kindly. So no, I quite frankly don’t want to live with you and Beth at the same time. And truly, I just thought you’d be more comfortable out here.” He sighs. “You’ll be wrapped up in our mess during all your waking hours, I don’t want to take away the little bit of peace you’ll get during your sleeping ones too.”

I frown. “Mr. John, I-” I begin to protest.

“No, I don’t want to hear it. You’re in the foreman’s and that’s final.” Mr. John’s swinging the door open now, and the house is everything I thought it would be growing up.

High ceilings reveal exposed wood, and the humble home is lined with windows, letting in ample natural light. In a way I feel like I haven’t left the outdoors at all, the house is simply an extension of the forest that looms behind it. As kids, one of the few places Kayce and I weren’t allowed to wreak havoc was the foreman’s house. Mr. John always berated us whenever we’d beg to go inside, saying, “A hard-working man deserves some privacy, some peace and quiet. You better leave him and his home well enough alone or I’ll skin both of your hides.” For once we listened, neither of us too keen on getting our butts busted.

“Plus, I imagine Kayce will be mighty happy to learn he’s got his best friend back. It always was ya’ll’s dream to set up camp in here. Now you get to live it.” His statement breaks me out of my reverie.

“I’m sorry, you ‘imagine’ Kayce will be happy? He doesn’t know I’m here?” And so the other shoe drops. Mr. John always did hold out hope that Kayce and I would end up together. Said we’d be a power couple. Combine my business sense and charming small talk with Kayce’s grit and knowledge of the ranch and we’d be unstoppable. Let’s just say he was never too shy about his meddling. And while I did have a small crush on Kayce growing up, and I’d like to think he had one on me too, we were always both too awkward to entertain anything other than a close friendship. Naturally, we experimented the way kids do, having had a drunk kiss or two and having done our fair share of skinny dipping, but by the time we were in our late teens all romantic feelings had fizzled. That doesn’t mean we weren’t closer than we’d ever been though, thicker than thieves and troublemakers to boot. We practically lived in each others’ pockets. You wouldn’t find one of us without the other. I was crazy about Kayce and he adored me, but it was never anything other than platonic.

“Mr. John, I can’t live here if Kayce doesn’t know about it. You said so yourself, the foreman’s house is his getaway, a place for peace and quiet. I’m not taking that from him.” Hands planted firmly on my hips and lips pursed, I shake my head adamantly. “I’ll find myself a place in town or-”

“Caroline, no, you’re staying-”

“Or I’ll see if my cousin Amy has a spare room, we were always close and-”

“Caroline.” His voice is firm, if not a little irritated. “I said no. Kayce needs you here, you hear me? You’re staying here and that’s final.” This last part is spoken a bit softer, but firmly all the same.

Now Mr. John might not be my real daddy, but I’ve spent my whole life obeying him all the same, and this time is no different, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to plead my case. “Mr. John, I’ve missed Kayce too and I know he’s going through a lot right now, but he doesn’t need me.” I sigh. “And I couldn’t possibly put out his family. I mean, this place is small enough as it is. And Tate’s what, nearing eight now? He needs room to play and run around, I’ll only be taking up already limited space.” Giving a half-hearted shrug, I turn to head back toward the door, but Mr. John’s heavy sigh has me doubling back.

“Caroline honey, I wasn’t going to tell you this because I don’t feel like it’s my place, but when I say Kayce needs you I mean it. He and Monica split a few weeks ago, and with everything else going on he’s in real bad-”

Back turned to the door, I hear Kayce before I see him. “Dad, for the last time I’m not interested in meeting who you’ve got running for AG, so if you could kindly show her out I’d greatly-”

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I know I said Kayce and I had never been anything other than platonic, but you’d have to be blind not to see what a looker the boy is. God damn is he beautiful. I mean he always has been, but the years have been more than kind to him. Seeing him now damn near takes my breath away. The last time I laid eyes on Kayce he had just returned from the navy, eyes weary and hair cropped close. He had looked exhausted, almost dead in the eyes. Now though, he looks like a field set ablaze by the setting sun, all bright and aglow with something unnameable. Almost dangerous in his beauty. He must get over seeing me for the first time in five years before I get over seeing him because before it feels like I can even blink he’s across the room and I’m a foot off the ground, wrapped tight in his arms. I never knew I was missing part of myself until this very moment, with Kayce’s face pressed into the crook of my neck and my hand fisted in his hair. I swear I feel more settled in myself than I have in years, like I’m sinking into my bed after a long day, or eating a warm meal after I’ve spent all day working out in the cold.

“Caroline.” It’s a soft whisper in my ear. It almost sounds reverent, like a prayer.

“Kayce,” I murmur back, something private only he can hear.

I suppose he remembers we aren’t alone because before I know it my feet are planted firmly on the ground once more and I’m no longer wrapped in his embrace. Instead, he lets one gentle hand linger on the small of my back, almost hesitant and unnatural in its hovering. Grinning, he turns to Mr. John. “Dad what is-” his gaze shifts to find mine. “Caroline, what are you doing here?”

My lips part preparing to answer, but no sound comes out, just a whisper of an inhale followed by a beaming smile. I think it’s important to say once again that my feelings for Kayce are strictly platonic, but my God if a woman can’t get lost in his whiskey-brown eyes.

I’m broken out of my trance by an awkward cough. Both Kayce and I turn to face Mr. John, who looks a bit too pleased for my liking. Smiling wryly he drawls, “Well I think I’ll leave you two to catch up. Caroline, I’ll have one of the boys bring your truck up. No sense in you hauling yourself all around sundry.” Making his way outside, he pauses on the porch. “I expect to see both of ya’ll at supper. Don’t be late.” He saunters down the porch and down the path, not looking back when he hollers, “And Kayce, wash up! You smell like shit.”

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“So, you’re here to clean up the fucking mess I made then.” Kayce looks the most dejected I’ve seen him in years. Like a puppy dog that’s been kicked and put out in the cold. “Dad dragged you back to this godforsaken place because of me.” His fists shake where they’re clenched atop his knees. He tosses his hat onto the coffee table and rakes his hands through his sweat-dampened hair. “You know, I was so relieved when you got out of here. I was so scared this place would ruin everything good about you, set you up in flames like it does everything else.” His calloused hand clasps mine. “Why would you come back here? After everything that happened, after-” He takes a moment to collect himself, teeth gritted together, shoulders tensed. “After what Caleb- after what he did-”

“Kayce don’t.” I know what he’s trying to get at, and I won’t have it talked about. Not on my first day back. When I said I loved Yellowstone, that I was happy to be back, I meant it. But there are memories that this place carries that I’d rather forget, and I’m not about to let my reunion with my best friend turn sinister over one of those memories - over the mention of some asshole cowboy that belongs to the past. I want that memory to die with him. Placing a comforting hand on his back, I try to console him. “I’m a big girl. Believe it or not, I’ve grown into my britches and I know what I can handle. Plus,” I give his back a hard pat, “you really think I would let this place ruin me? I’d like to see it try.”

“Caroline..” He shakes his head, eyes glassy. “You-”

I cut him off with a quick rap of my knuckles against the coffee table, rising off the couch with an air of finality. “As for why I came back, well that’s simple. I love you Kace.” I lick my chapped lips, find a spot on the wall to focus on. “And I’m- I’m never going to abandon you when you need me.” I extend my pinky in the form of a promise, a relic left over from our childhood. “Come hell or high water remember?”

He straightens up, gaze ungluing itself from the floor only to meet mine. Kayce was always taller than me, but I don’t remember having to crane my neck up to meet his eyes the way I do now. His pinky wrapping around mine is a distant sensation in the back of my mind. “Come hell or high water.” He steps back, scratching his temple awkwardly. From a man to a boy with one simple gesture. “Uh, there’s only one bathroom so we’ll have to take turns. I don’t know if you need to shower, but you can go first, everything you need is in there, but I mean- you probably brought your own stuff so never mind.” He mutters below his breath, “God Kace,” and picks invisible lint off his shirt.

I laugh, bright and airy. Growing up Kayce was known for his ruthless pranks, and when I wasn’t his accomplice I was his primary victim. So to miss such a golden and rare opportunity to make fun of him would be a crime, his emotional turmoil aside. “No need to take turns bud, I don’t need to shower. Just got to freshen up a bit, throw on some makeup, brush my hair.” I start a slow saunter down the hall, sporting a feline grin. Kayce follows close behind- my shadow. Turning to walk backward, I poke him sharp in the chest. “How about you, Manure Man, hop in the shower while I do my makeup. We can keep each other company, catch up on each other's lives.” My back hits what I assume to be the bathroom door. I sigh. “After all, we don’t want to keep your daddy waiting. I for one don’t want a smack upside the head and I reckon you don’t either.” Angling my body so it faces the door, I reach for the nob and look at Kayce imploringly, my eyebrows raised, daring him to chicken out.

He suppresses a grin, tongue poking at his cheek. “Now you know that’s not exactly proper and I know that you’re trying to embarrass me, so you can go ahead and drop the act Miss Caroline.” Calling me on my shit, he leans into the door frame, his arms boxing me in on both sides.

Of course he knows I’m trying to embarrass him, anybody with eyes could see that. What he hasn’t caught onto is that I’m appealing to his competitive nature. If I keep poking at him long enough, there’s no way he won’t cave. If I know Kayce, he’ll take being excruciatingly embarrassed over losing against me any day. “Not proper? Sweetheart, I’ve seen you in your birthday suit more times than I care to think about, I don’t think standing in the same room as you while you shower will be the thing that sends me to hell.” I duck under his arm, grab my makeup bag from where I’d left it in the living room, and duck back under, swinging the bathroom door open as I go. Throwing my hair into a ponytail, I lock eyes with him in the mirror. His skin is flushed pink all the way down to his chest and he gnaws at his lip. Like I said, from a man to a boy with one small gesture. “Unless you’re too much of a chicken.” I shrug. “Then I guess we can take turns.” I aim for nonchalant, fingers crossed that he’s not catching on to my instigating.

Kayce’s eyes immediately narrow. Good, he’s taken the bait. “I know you’re not calling me a chicken.” His arms drop and he closes the door behind him.

Snickering, I breathe, “I’d only call you a chicken if you were acting like one, so tell me Kayce - are you being a chicken?”

He turns the shower on in lieu of an answer, eyes never leaving mine in the mirror. “I wouldn’t even know what a chicken acts like Caroline, having never been one, so no I don’t reckon I am.” At this, he flings his shirt off, and I hear his belt buckle clink shortly after, and then a thud as his pants hit the floor. The only thing that remains are his underwear and I hold his gaze steady, daring him to lose our little game. I can’t hear his underwear hit the floor, but I see the hunch his shoulders form as he bends to take them off. When he stands back up straight, he must see the devious gleam in my eye because he drawls out a suspicious, “What?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head, pressing my lips together. I fiddle with the hem of my blouse. It’s a frilly white thing with thin straps and a gathered waist. One of my favorites truly. Too pretty to risk getting makeup on. I pull the shirt gingerly over my head, not worried about appearing sexy, knowing my plain bra isn’t much to look at. I begin to sort out my makeup, lining products up along the counter. “I was just thinking about how I don’t want to get makeup on my blouse. That’s all.”

The rustle of the shower curtain opening and closing is Kayce’s only reply. Check and mate Dutton.

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Despite my reasoning for us sharing, Kayce and I don’t catch up with each other in the bathroom, in fact, he doesn’t speak a word to me until I’ve completed my makeup and he’s finished his shower.

Brushing my hair slowly and methodically, lost in my own thoughts, I almost miss the sound of the shower turning off and the rasp of the curtain as Kayce steps out. He’s wrapped in a comically large towel, but his hair still drips steadily onto the bathmat, saturated with water. The embarrassment has leached from his face and his downtrodden expression from earlier has returned. “So dad told you about me and Monica?” He perches on the closed toilet, sagging into himself, sniffs. “Old bastard.”

“What makes you think that?” Laying my hairbrush down, I turn to prop my hip against the counter and cross my arms, face as neutral as I can make it.

Kayce looks at me from under long, damp lashes, his jaw set. “Caroline, we’ve pushed a boundary or two in our decades of friendship, but I know that if you thought for one second that you’d be stepping on any toes or be disrespecting my marriage in any way, you wouldn’t have started whatever all of this,” he gestures around the bathroom, “little game was. So what did he tell you?” His hands are shaking again, but rather than clenched shut, this time they lay open, palms up, almost pleading.

“Kayce.” I kneel down, encasing one of his weathered hands with both of mine. “All he told me was that you and Monica had split not too long ago, nothing more. And he didn’t even really want to tell me that, I kind of forced his hand. I promise you.” I stand back up and ruffle his still-damp hair, trying to bring some levity back to the situation. “Although I really don’t understand all the secrecy bud, you had to hear all about my messy divorce- and over facetime of all ways. I’m not- I would never judge you Kace.”

Rising to his full height, Kayce fidgets with one of my belt loops. “I know you’d never judge me, Caroline, it’s not your judgment I’m worried about.”

“Then what are you worried about,” I murmur.

“Oh Kayce, you really think-,” I laugh, “I just gave you shit in the most ridiculous way, knowing well and good you’ve been put through the wringer, and you think I would treat you like some wounded thing.” I bend down to retrieve my shirt, toss it onto the counter behind me. “I realize I have a bad habit of babying you, and I don’t plan to stop any time soon, but if you think for one second that I won’t give you hell any and every time you need it, well then you’re mistaken sweetheart.” Propping his hands on his hips, Kayce looks down, kicks his bare foot against my booted one.

“Now, nobody said anything about me wanting you to stop babying me.” He grins shyly at me. “Every good cowboy needs a pretty lady to soften him up a bit, ya know.”

I feel my breath hitch as his fingers wrap loosely around mine, I’m suddenly hyper-aware of the damp towel that seems to slide lower down his hips by the second. Have I mentioned how beautiful this man is? Have time and space away from him turned my brain into scrambled eggs? Why in the hell do I feel a flush creeping down my neck? Dear God, and I have to live with this man.

I smack his chest, like any sane woman who suddenly finds herself attracted to her best friend would do, and try to hide my nerves behind a too-loud laugh. “Well as long as you don’t expect this pretty lady to harden you up too, I think I can manage that.” Slipping my hand out of his hold, I grab my blouse and make to leave, but not before I catch sight of the scarlet blush that paints his face and ears. One foot in the hallway, I call back, “Now hurry up and get dressed cowboy, wouldn’t want to keep daddy waiting.” Closing the door all I hear is a muttered, “Jesus,” in response.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I wait out on the porch while Kayce gets ready, slouched down on one of the steps, elbows resting on my knees. The absolute quiet that surrounds me, save for the chirp of a bird or the rustle of leaves as the breeze blows, feels like a balm on my soul. I’d forgotten what it was like to feel this way. Content, at peace, like the whole world could be falling down around me but I’d still be alright, because this place, this land, will cradle me, protect me, like a momma does for her baby. I spent so long, years of my young life, running from one thing or another. Running into the arms of the wrong people, the wrong places. Yellowstone wasn’t the only place I found trouble, and while I was able to make a name for myself, to come out on top, the years I spent fighting for myself, fighting myself, have taken a toll on me. Never really thought the ranch would be my respite, but fighting for the Duttons feels like a goddamn breath of fresh air compared to what I’ve had to claw my way through in the last decade. This is my home, trouble or not.

The door creaks open, then shut, and I crane my head back to greet Kayce. “Took ya long enough, beauty queen.”

Unphased Kayce shoves his hands into his pockets. “Your face looks goofy upside down. And I can see into your nose.” He swaggers past me, down the steps, and onto the path. “Might want to invest in a nose trimmer.. beauty queen.” Fantastic. We’re back in familiar territory. No more warm damp skin, or slouchy towels, and thank god no more tugging at my belt loops or crowding me against the counter.. abs on display, broad shoulders at eye level… Yeah no, childish insults are great! Much more comfortable, way less confusing. I’m more than happy to engage in some lighthearted bullying with my completely platonic, non-romantic, best friend.

I must take too long to respond because Kayce doubles back, coming to stand at the base of the stairs below my feet. Looking at me funny, eyebrows scrunched and lips upturned, he asks, “You good? Wasn’t even that good of a burn to be honest. You’ve taken worse.” Actual concern begins to creep into his features, so before he can get himself worked up into a spiral of guilt I hop up from the stairs, dust off my backside, and punch him square in the gut.

“Oh don’t you worry ‘bout me, I’m fine. I was actually just thinking that I probably should buy a trimmer, keep things ship shape. And you know,” I glance back at him deviously, “now that we’re living together, there’s bound to be quite a few spa nights in your future. I could use it on you as well, really get my money’s worth.” As he falls in step with me, I expect him to protest immediately. When we were kids, I asked to pretty him up practically every day, told him I did boy activities with him so it was only fair he did girly things with me. In all our years of friendship he only caved once, the night I got my first period, told me I shouldn’t have to become a woman alone. He let me put a full face of makeup on him, paint his nails, and even braid his hair. No complaints, no making fun, just supported me in the only way he knew how.

So he surprises me when he inquires, “What exactly would a spa night include? Like what are we talking here? Fancy robes, overpriced lotion, cucumbers on our eyes?” His face is entirely serious, sincere in its curiosity. Man, it's easy to forget how much growing up changes a person.. how much marriage changes a person.

I stutter. “I- I mean, it can really include whatever you want it to? I normally take a bubble bath, shave my whole body- not that you’d want to do that, and then I go ham with some lotion, put on a face mask and hair mask, maybe whiten my teeth or trim my nails. Just depends.” I shrug. Kayce and I have talked about everything under the sun, but I never thought in a million years we’d be discussing my self-care routine.

He looks at me, eyebrows furrowed, contemplating. He kicks at the dirt a bit, tips his head to either side and then with an unexpected air of finality says, “Okay. I think I’d like to try all of that. I’ve never done masks or whitened my teeth before.” He stops, looking suddenly reluctant. “Wait, none of this hurts right? Like it’s relaxing?”

I place my hand on his back, half to prompt him to keep walking, half to comfort him. An easy laugh escapes me. “No, none of it hurts. And it is very relaxing, especially when you have a good bottle of wine on hand.” I wink, trying still to reassure him.

Worries assuaged, he winks back. “Well if there’s good wine involved, I’m in. Do you have the stuff with you already? Could we do it tonight?”

This time I stop in my tracks. If I was shocked before, now I’m flabbergasted. “You really want to do all that tonight?” He starts to look self-conscious so I clarify myself. “I mean, I’m more than happy to host a spa night, don’t get me wrong, but I just figured you’d need to warm up to the idea.”

Kayce walks a half step in front of me, avoids making eye contact. “In all honesty, tomorrow’s going to be a rough day. I don’t know if dad told you, but we’ve got to negotiate with the rez, the governor, and the sheriff tomorrow. Try to find some way to sweep everything under the rug, not let my fuck-ups tarnish the ranch’s reputation.” He removes his hat, runs his hand haphazardly through his hair. I know he asked me not to treat him like some wounded thing, and I won’t, but boy does he look it. “So, yeah, I just need something to take my mind off of the impending shitstorm I’m about to deal with. And I know you’re dying to gussy me up.” He flashes me a smile. “And if you’re happy, I’m happy, so a spa night it is.”

I sigh, feeling out of my depth. In all our years of friendship, I so rarely had to be the strong one. That was always Kayce. And while I’ve certainly toughened up in the time we’ve spent apart, I still feel so unprepared to tackle all of this. I’m scared I’ll say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, misstep in an unfixable way. More than anything, I’m scared I’ll let Kayce down. “Your uh- Mr. John did tell me all that actually, but I hadn’t thought about how emotionally draining it’ll be. A spa night sounds good Kace. And we can even put on a horror movie, even it out.” I shrug, still feeling out of my depth.

Kayce doesn’t reply, but he does show me the barest hint of a smile, just the slight upturn of the corners of his lips. His smile says, “we’ll make it through this, we have to.”

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fanficforlife · 1 year

Text

Chapter 5

You leaned back against your headboard and pressed number one on your speed dial. Your old neighbors, James and Anna, picked up on the first ring. "Hi, hun." Hearing Anna's voice caused a smile to immediately spread across your face.

"Hi!"

"Just a sec. I'll put you on speaker... Okay, can you hear us?"

"Hi, Vi."

"I can hear you. Hi!"

"How are you doing? I know you said that you're good over texts but you haven't been able to update us on where you are. You’ve been busy the past two months. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we've been texting back and forth lots but I miss the sound of your voice."

"But, it is best you don't text where you are. No trail." James added.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I haven't called sooner. I can’t believe it’s been two months. Time has gone by so fast here. I'm in Montana and the place I'm staying at is incredible. It's a huge ranch with mountains surrounding it. They keep me pretty busy. I clean the main house and do school runs for the owner's grandson, Tate."

"Oh, it sounds like a great place. The owner's grandson lives with him. Do the boy's parents also stay there?" Anna asked.

"His mom is dead but she was never in the picture, it's just him and his dad. He lives here too. The owner's other kids also live here. They are all upstairs, I'm on the main floor. Their cook has a room next to mine. All of the other wranglers and cowboys live in a bunkhouse."

"By the sound of it, you really like it there and finally found a place to settle down."

"I do really like it here." You agreed with Anna. "And, yeah, I think I am going to stay. The owner even gave me a horse. Well, technically it's still his but I got to name her. The guy who had her before was horrible to her and someone rescued her, they brought her here. She's so skinny and has scars all over. She's too weak to ride and even when she gains weight she might not be strong enough but she's beautiful. She's different shades of gray and has spots in some areas and solid gray in others. I named her Storm."

"She does sound beautiful...and you two have a bit in common."

"I um, I told the owner and two of his sons about Nick. His son's a lawyer and said I was hiding something, he was going to call the cops if I didn't tell them. The owner believes me and said I can stay here as long as I want. He said I'm safe here."

"Oh, honey, that makes me so happy." You could hear the relief in her voice.

"If he ever wants to talk to us just call," James said. "So, you can't ride your horse but have you seen the other ones or gotten on a different horse yet?"

"I go out and see them a lot with Tate, he likes bringing them sugar cubes. You would love him. He's the sweetest kid. I help him with his homework and he helps me make cookies."

"What about his dad? What's he like?" Anna's voice was soft.

"His dad...he's nice."

"Just nice? What's his name?"

"His name is Kayce and...and he's more than nice." You admitted as heat started to creep across your cheeks. "He's easy to talk to and kind."

"Is he cute?"

You giggled before answering James. "Yes, he's cute. He was going to teach me how to ride a horse but I chickened out."

"He's kind, good-looking, takes care of his son. He sounds like a good man."

"I think he is a good man..."

They knew by the sound of your voice that you thought you did something wrong. "Violet, honey, it's okay to like someone. You might have lived with Nick for the last six years but you haven't been in a relationship with him for almost two years. You were a prisoner." James informed softly.

"Nick...I'm scared..."

"I know, honey. Oh, I wish I was there to give you a hug."

His wife's voice broke so James took over. "I know you went through hell with the last one but they aren't all like that. This one could be good."

"Yeah..."

"Does he know?" James asked.

"No, I haven't told him."

"Violet!"

"Tate's calling me. I should go."

"Alright, sweetie." Anna sniffed. "We're here whenever you need to talk, anytime. I love you."

"Love you too, kid."

"Love you guys. Now that I'm settled I'll call again soon." You smiled as you hung up on the two people you loved the most in the world.

There was a knock on your door as Kayce stepped through the open doorway. "I'm not interrupting am I?"

"No, I'm done." You set your phone on the nightstand and got up. "I'm guessing Tate's done his homework and is ready for s'mores."

"You heard him hollering from outside." He laughed.

"I did." The two of you headed for the kitchen. "Everything is ready to go. I have a travel mug with hot chocolate for him on here but would you be able to carry the mugs and thermos?"

"No problem." He got the five mugs and thermos full of coffee you had set out while you picked up the tray that held Tate's drink and everything you needed to make s'mores. You were supposed to all sit around the fire and roast marshmallows just over a week ago, Lee included. Now that his funeral was over, everyone was trying to get back to normal so it was time for Tate's s'mores night.

After handing out coffee to John, Beth, and Rip, John's right-hand man on the ranch who Beth had a thing for, you went and sat on the bench next to Kayce.

"Hey."

"Hi." You handed him one of the two mugs in your hands.

"Were you on the phone with your family?"

While you were helping Tate you got a text from your neighbors asking how you were. Since it was math homework and you hated math, you asked Kayce, who was sitting across the living room chatting with John, if he could help. You excused yourself and went to your room before calling your neighbors, instead of texting. "Yeah, kind of." A giggle left your lips when he cocked an eyebrow at kind of. "They were my neighbors. They're an older couple and kind of like adopted grandparents."

"Ah, got it. Everything's good?"

"Yeah, it is."

"I uh," he swallowed. "I gotta ride up to the ridge to check one of the pastures out. I was wondering if you'd like to come with me. Tate's spending the day with my dad so..."

"So, it would just be us." You finished when he died off. He looked at you while nervously running his thumb up and down the handle of his cup. You remembered your conversation with James and Anna and buried your fears. "Y-Yes."

A shy grin tugged at his lips. "Good. Great."

Tate came over holding two s'mores. "Here. I made you one." He handed one to you and the other to his dad.

"Thank you."

"Thanks, bud." Kayce took a bite of his. "Just the right amount of burnt marshmallow." Tate laughed and went to John, who had another two marshmallows waiting on sticks.

You took a bite of the gooey marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker sandwich as you watched Tate roasting the ones his grandpa gave him. Rip, Beth, John, and Kayce were laughing about something Beth said and you smiled. Maybe I can finally stop running.

*****

Kayce's horse was the only one saddled and waiting in the corral when you walked over the next afternoon. "Does he have a name yet?"

"Not yet." The cowboy turned to you with a smirk.

"Some cowboy you are." You giggled as his horse nuzzled his head into your arms while you scratched his face.

His smirk grew when you teased him, and it caused your stomach to flip flop. "I know we haven't had a chance to get out here so I can teach you how to ride yet so..." he jumped onto the horse's back. His hand reached out to you. "Do you trust me?"

You swallowed nervously. "Yes." His perfect crooked grin formed and you couldn't help but smile back. He glanced down at his hand and you placed yours in it.

"Alright, put your foot in the stirrup and I'll pull you up in front of me." You did what he said and he effortlessly helped you up. Once you swung your other leg over so you were properly seated, he reached around you with the reigns in one hand. "To get him to stop, sink on the saddle, lean back a little, and firm up your legs. Say woah and pull back gently on the reigns and he'll stop."

"Okay."

"To get him moving, sit relaxed in the saddle and keep the reigns fairly loose. Give him a gentle squeeze with your lower legs. If he's feeling lazy and doesn't move, give him a couple of soft bumps with your heels." Kayce did and the horse started walking. He could feel you tense up and he automatically put his free arm around you. You immediately grabbed onto it. "I'm not gonna let you fall, Letty."

"Uh, are you sure you wanna take him?" John asked as he and Lloyd leaned against the fence. "Blue Jeans might be better. A bit calmer."

"Yours' got a wild streak in him." Lloyd agreed.

"With everyone on this ranch but her. He loves Violet."

John nodded in agreement. "True, but she's not the only one up there."

You reached out and pet the horse's neck. "I trust him. And, you can't be a real cowboy without getting bucked off a horse at least once, right? If that happens, Kayce can break my fall."

John and Lloyd laughed as Tate came running over.

"Grandpa, come on. I got the fishing rods like you asked."

"I'm coming grandson."

Tate looked at you and Kayce and grinned before John and Lloyd headed back with him.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road." You relaxed slightly so he went to move his arm but you continued to hold on, keeping it in place. "I trust you and him but..." I'm still nervous as heck you finished silently.

"No worries. I got ya."

The farther the horse walked the more at ease you felt. Part of it might have had something to do with the cowboy sitting behind you though. Kayce pulled back on the reigns after fifteen minutes and slid off. After helping you down, he tied his horse to a low-hanging branch so it could graze.

You walked past a few trees, reaching the edge of a small meadow. Kayce appeared next to you but quickly squatted down, grabbing your arm and pulling you down with him. Before you could ask what was wrong, he held his index finger up to his lips for you to be quiet and pointed past the rock you were hiding behind. In the middle of the tree-lined clearing were a doe and her fawn. Your hand went to the cowboy's arm in excitement. Being in the city your whole life, this was the first time you had ever seen a deer in person.

Kayce smiled as he watched you. The amazement in your eyes, the grin on your face, it drew him to you even more. After a few minutes, he shifted, accidentally breaking a stick beneath his foot in the process, and the deer ran off.

You watched them run off before turning to him and finding him looking at you. His gaze made the butterflies in your stomach dance while making you equally as nervous. His eyes went to your lips and he slowly started leaning in. You quickly stood up and hurried back to his horse "Aren't we uh, supposed to be checking a pasture or fence or something? We umm, we should-"

Kayce came up behind you and placed his hand on yours, which was on the saddle horn about to pull yourself up. "Letty, wait. Please."

After taking a shaky breath you turned to face him.

"I'm not imagining things, am I? There's something here, you and me."

You swallowed and gave your head a quick nod. Your eyes left his and, since he was standing so close and couldn't go to the ground, went to the buttons on his shirt.

"Yesterday when you were helping Tate with his homework and got a text, I stayed to help him but...but only for a minute. You left so fast, I was worried."

Your eyes widened. "H-how much did you hear?"

"Everything." He admitted sheepishly.

"I...I..."

"I've done things..." he trailed off before clearing his throat. "I might not be a good man when it comes to some things, most things. But, when it comes to you, I will be the best man I can be. I don't know who Nick is and how he hurt you so badly. But, I want you to know that I never would. I've never met someone who's made me feel like this before. You're kind, beautiful, you're amazing with Tate. I love spending time with you. You make me happy." He hooked a finger under your chin and tilted it up, revealing tears welling in your eyes. "You don't have to be scared, Letty. When you're ready, you can talk to me. No matter how long you need before you're ready and no matter what you say, I'm not going anywhere."

The fierceness in his hazel eyes told you that he was telling the truth and a few tears started to slip from your eyes. His hands came up and cupped your face, his thumbs gently brushing the tears away.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked cautiously.

You couldn't get out any words so you nodded. When his lips softly pressed against yours, every thought, every horrible memory of your ex disappeared. It was only the kind, caring cowboy and you. And, you kissed him back.

When you parted, his eyes searched your face and found a shy smile. He let out a silent sigh of relief as he tucked your hair behind your ear. "We better get going and actually check the pasture I'm supposed to. Hop on." When his hand left your jaw, you instantly missed his touch but you climbed up and took your foot out of the stirrup so he could get on. His left hand held the reigns. His right arm wrapped around your waist, holding you close. The fingers on your right hand mixed with his while the other held onto the saddle horn.

As you continued to your destination, you thought of how right it felt; living at the ranch, being with him, kissing him. Fear crept along the edges bringing the what if's but you knew Nick, he'd come to get you the second he knew where you were. The longest it took him to find you was two weeks. It's been four months since you left so instead of the fear seeping further inside, it was replaced by a calmness and you leaned into the cowboy and relaxed for the first time in years.

*****

"Violet, can I talk to you for a second?" John called from inside his office.

You walked in holding the laundry basket you just emptied and sat down across from him. "Did you need something else washed?"

"No. No. You are always on top of that. I know I've said it before but you are the best damn housekeeper we've had. It's amazing what you get done in a day, even when you spend time with those two." His eyes went to the window where Tate was trying to tackle Kayce to the grass.

You followed his gaze and smiled as you watched the two of them laughing on the ground. Your eyes lingered on them before returning to your boss, who was watching you intently.

"They're pretty fond of you. Kayce told me he finally asked you out last week."

"Yeah." Heat crept across your cheeks but it quickly vanished. "I should have asked you if it was okay first, I'm sorry. I don't want to cross a line or umm, with Nick...I don't know..."

"Violet, it's okay. I'm not mad." He smiled softly. "You said if he knew where you were he would come get you right away. You left almost four and a half months ago. You don't have to worry about him. Even if he did come here, he wouldn't touch you."

You searched his eyes and saw nothing but the truth so you nodded.

"I've seen you with Tate. You're definitely his favorite person here." He chuckled. "And, my son, I haven't seen him this happy and engaged since I don't know when." His eyes went to the folded American flag nestled in a case on the shelf under the window. "The Navy took a lot out of him, and raising Tate on his own, it's been hard. Then Lee..." He focused back on you. "I honestly don't know how he would've gotten through it without you." After taking a deep breath he went on. "Nick hurt you in more ways than one and I know you are still dealing with that. I don't want you to feel pressured in any way to spend time with Kayce or Tate beyond your job."

"I don't feel pressured. I love spending time with them." You swallowed. "No one else knows about Nick, what he was like. They just think I left California because of a bad breakup."

"And, it can stay that way until you are ready to say otherwise. Kayce included. When you do say something you don't have to worry about anybody here telling anyone. You're safe here."

A grateful smile pulled at your lips. "Thank you."

"I hear it's movie night tonight."

"It is. Once I put this basket away, Tate wants to go into town to pick up some snacks because all that's left in the pantry are healthy ones apparently." You chuckled.

"Well, in that case, I could go for some potato chips."

"I'll add them to the list."

He smiled. "I'll let you go now. Don't want to keep the kid waiting or he'll come track you down."

"Yes, he will. See you later." You smiled back before picking up the basket and heading to the laundry room.

You walked down the porch steps and out onto the lawn where Kayce had just picked up Tate and hung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Tate laughed the whole time.

"Hey, beautiful." The hand that wasn't holding Tate upside down went to your waist, and he leaned in to kiss you.

You smiled shyly and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Hi." Jeez, he makes me feel like a schoolgirl with a crush.

"Violet! Dad put me down." Tate struggled so Kayce set him on his feet.

"Hi, bud. Ready to go?"

"Yup! Did you grab the list?"

"I did." Tate cheered and ran towards the driveway. "Do you have any requests for the movie tonight?"

Kayce's arms slid around your waist. "As long as you sit with me, that's all I need." You blushed again and he chuckled. "God, you're cute."

"Stop!" You pressed your forehead against his chest to hide your bright red cheeks.

He chuckled again before kissing your hair. You lifted your head and gave him a wary look. "I'm done...for now." His hands went to your waist and tugged you close when you groaned. He dug in his pocket and pulled out his keys. "Here, you can take my truck."

"Really?"

"Really. I know the ranch ones are pretty big plus, you've been bugging me to let you drive it."

"Yeah, but I figured if there was ever a chance that you did let me drive you would have to be there."

"I trust you." He grinned and handed you the keys.

"I promise I won't hurt your baby." You giggled when he squeezed your waist.

"Violet!"

"I gotta go and you should probably get back to work and get done what you need to so you can actually watch the movie with us after supper."

"Yes, ma'am." He leaned in and pressed his lips against yours for a long slow kiss, leaving you with a smile when he pulled away. "Have I ever told you that you're fucking adorable?"

Red stained your cheeks. "Ugh, stop! I'm leaving now." You gave him a playful shove before turning and heading towards a waiting Tate. You could hear Kayce chuckling behind you and you smiled.

"Not that one." You told Tate who was about to open the work truck door. He looked at you and you held up Kayce's keys and shook them.

"Dad's truck?!"

"Mhm. We better hurry before he changes his mind."

He grabbed your hand. "Run!" His infectious laugh filled the air as he pulled you toward Kayce's truck.

You glanced over at Tate and found him looking at you for the fourth time since you left the ranch. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"My dad really likes you."

"Oh, really. Why do you think that?"

"Because he let you drive his truck. He never lets anyone drive it, not even grandpa. Aaannd, because he stares at you all the time. Like, all the time." He giggled.

Your cheeks darkened as you looked back at him and saw a huge grin on his face. "Well, umm..." You had nothing.

"You like him too, don't you?"

"I uh, I...yeah. Yes. Your dad is...he's really nice."

Tate's smile grew and he went back to looking out his window.

Your gaze lingered on the little boy who had quickly earned a place in your heart. As you focused back on the road, your thoughts went to his dad. The handsome cowboy with shoulder-length wavy brown hair and brown eyes that you could lose yourself in. His charm and kindness were rapidly earning him a place right next to his son.

"I got these." Tate took the stack of four bowls off the counter.

"Thanks, bud. I'll be right there." He hurried out of the kitchen and headed for the living room while you poured the bag of potato chips into a bowl. You carried it out and placed it on the coffee table which was already overflowing with treats. "Tate and I may have gone a bit overboard."

"We couldn't decide so we got it all." Tate looked at the spread with excited eyes.

John, who was sitting with Tate, handed him an empty bowl before taking one for himself. "What will it be grandson?" Tate and John started filling their bowls with snacks.

Kayce reached for you and tugged you down next to him, leaving you giggling. His arms wrapped around you. "I got what I want," Kayce whispered next to your ear. Heat crept across your cheeks as he pulled you onto his lap and kissed your temple. You smiled at him before leaning forward and filling a bowl with a bit of everything for the two of you. Once you settled back into his arms, John looked over.

"Ready?" He smiled at the two of you across the coffee table as he held the remote control.

"Ready," Kayce answered while a light shade of pink colored your cheeks.

As the movie started playing, you cuddled against him and it was like Nick never existed. It had only been a week since Kayce had asked you out but every time you were with him all of the horrible memories, the doubts, the fears you had were replaced with happiness, excitement, and a feeling of normalcy that you hadn't experienced in years.

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